ABSTRACT
A total of 624 respiratory specimens from 543 patients (418 Belgian, 110 Rwandan, and 15 Colombian patients) were tested for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test (MTDT, Gen-Probe). Compared to culture, the MTDT on 497 samples of sputum or broncho-alveolar lavage from Belgium had a sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value of 86.4%, 96.0%, 50.0% and 99.3% respectively. The pooled results for Rwanda (112 specimens) and Colombia (15 specimens) were 97.8%, 65.7%, 88.2%, 92% respectively. After resolution of discrepant results by taking into account the clinical data, the results for the Belgian patients were 86.9%, 96.2%, 52.6%, 99.3% respectively, and for the Rwandan-Colombian patients 98.1%, 100%, 100% and 92% respectively. Results could be improved by testing more than one specimen from each patient and the inclusion of an internal control to detect inhibitors of the reaction. Culture remains necessary for drug susceptibility tests and the isolation and identification of non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
Subject(s)
Genetic Techniques , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/microbiology , Belgium , Colombia/ethnology , Humans , Predictive Value of Tests , Rwanda/ethnology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/ethnologyABSTRACT
Non mycobacterial contaminants and in vitro cultivable mycobacteria have been isolated in large numbers from two out four armadillo livers infected with human derived Mycobacterium leprae. The organisms were difficult to grow mycobacteria and their in vitro multiplication was only successful if the following three conditions were fulfilled: (1) inocula should contain high numbers of viable organisms(10(5)); (2) suspensions should be pretreated with NaOH or HCl; (3) acid media, with a very precise pH(5.4-5.7) and containing autoclaved mycobacterial suspensions should be used.The presence of these mycobacteria in armadillo livers may influence the results of studies performed on M. leprae purified from such organs. The relationship of these mycobacteria with M. leprae remains to be elucidated.
Subject(s)
Animals , Xenarthra/microbiology , Liver/microbiology , Leprosy/microbiology , Leprosy/veterinary , Mycobacterium/isolation & purification , Armadillos/microbiologyABSTRACT
Mycobacterium leprae and M. tuberculosis are the most important human Mycobacterial ptahogens. Chemotherapy, with dapsone, was first applied to leprosy in 1942-1945, chemotherapy of tuberculosis started later, in 1950, with streptomycin.