A First Assessment ofMycobacterium tuberculosisGenetic Diversity and Drug-Resistance Patterns in Twelve Caribbean Territories

Abstract

With the exception of some French-speaking islands, data on tuberculosis (TB) in the Caribbean are scarce. In this study, we report a first assessment of genetic diversity of a convenience sample of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains received from twelve Caribbean territories by spoligotyping and describe their drug-resistance patterns. Of the 480 isolates, 40 (8.3%) isolates showed resistance to at least one anti-TB drug. The proportion of drug-resistant strains was significantly higher in The Bahamas (21.4%; P = 0.02), and Guyana (27.5%; P < 0.0001), while it was significantly lower in Jamaica (2.4%; P = 0.03) than in other countries of the present study. Regarding genetic diversity, 104 distinct spoligotype patterns were observed: 49 corresponded to clustered strains (2 to 93 strains per cluster), while 55 remained unclustered among which 16 patterns were not reported previously. Combining the study results with regional data retrieved from the international SITVIT2 database underlined a connection between frequency of certain M. tuberculosis phylogenetic lineages and the language spoken, suggesting historical (colonial) and ongoing links (trade, tourism, and migratory flows) with European countries with which they shared a common past.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis polyclonal infections and microevolution identified by MIRU-VNTRs in an epidemiological study

“…They were part of a convenience sample of clinical isolates sent to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), Trinidad, for identification and drug susceptibility testing (DST) [13].…”

“…We are highly grateful to Dr. Shirematee Baboolal since this work benefited from the MTB DNA collection sent to Institut Pasteur de Guadeloupe for epidemiological studies included in her Ph.D. thesis (awarded by the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; see References [12] and [13]). Permission to retrospectively genotype these DNAs was kindly granted by Dr. Persaud (Chief Medical Officer, Guyana), and Dr. Eersel (Director, Ministry of Health, Suriname).…”

Finer characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using spoligotyping and 15-loci MIRU-VNTRs reveals phylogeographical specificities of isolates circulating in Guyana and Suriname

“…Such studies are scarce for the Caribbean with 61 the exception of the French overseas departments -Guadeloupe, 62 Martinique and French Guiana (Brudey et al, 2006b;Millet et al, 63 2011Millet et al, 63 , 2014b, and to a minor extent Trinidad and Tobago (Millet 64 et al, 2009). Recently, we provided a first assessment of spoligo-65 typing-based genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis com-66 plex (MTBC) in twelve Caribbean territories (Millet et al, 2014a). 67 Seeing relatively high TB incidences in Guyana rate was calculated using the n À 1 method (Small et al, 1994).…”

Advances in Personalised Treatment of Multi-drug Resistant Tuberculosis

“…Next to DNA sequencing, several reversed line blot technologies are available, such as the ones of the Hain Company (Nehren, Germany). Another example of a laboratory assay that can simultaneously identify and type M. tuberculosison genotype family level is spoligotyping, which has been utilized successfully at the global level by NalinRastogi [8]. Rapid indicative determination of resistance to INH, Rif, and certain second line drugs has become reliable and should, after the laboratory diagnosis has been established, directly steer the choice of the treatment regimen.…”