| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2010 | Volume
: 5
| Issue : 3 | Page : 149-152 |
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The emergence of Beijing genotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Sahal Al Hajoj1, Nalin Rastogi2
1 Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (MBC 03), PO Box 3354, Riyadh - 11211, Saudi Arabia
2 Pasteur Institute of Guadeloupe, Tuberculosis and Mycobacteria Unit, BP 484, F97183-Abymes, Cedex, Guadeloupe, France
Correspondence Address:
Sahal Al Hajoj
Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (MBC 03), PO Box 3354, Riyadh - 11211
Saudi Arabia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1817-1737.65045
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Objective : To investigate the prevalence of Beijing genotype strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Methods : We analyzed the available data on a total of 1505 strains isolated during 2002-2005.
Results : Spoligotyping results revealed that Beijing family isolates represented 4.5% of all the isolates. Existence of Beijing clade is alarming as this family is known to be multi-drug resistant and transmissible.
Conclusions : This study showed that the occurrence of Beijing genotype is associated with young age and drug resistance. The Beijing strains affected both Saudi nationals as well as migrants originating in Asia. The Beijing clade could be responsible for the ongoing transmission of tuberculosis within the community. |
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