The finding of multiple families of M. tuberculosis strains (S, T, LAM, Haarlem), their presumed links with the major genetic groups (MGG) of M. tuberculosis complex, supports the view of independent introduction of several ancestral genotypes in Sicily and in Sardinia.
The high prevalence of Beijing and LAM in children with culture-confirmed TB reflects considerable transmission of these genotype families within the community.
Further spoligotyping analyses of the M. bovis and two available M. tuberculosis isolates classified the strains as SB1432 and SB09444 and LAM_10 CAM and T1 using respectively www.mbovis.org and spotclust databases.
The M. tuberculosis population structure in Morocco is highly homogeneous, and is characterized by the predominance of the Euro-American lineages, namely LAM, Haarlem, and T, which belong to the "evolutionary recent" TbD1-/PGG2/3 phylogenetic group.
This study showed the population structure of M. tuberculosis in several regions from Colombia with a dominance of the LAM and Haarlem sublineages, particularly in two major urban settings (Medellín and Cali).
Incremental diagnostic yield of adding LAM was the difference in the proportion of confirmed TB patients (positive Xpert or MTB culture) diagnosed by the algorithm with LAM compared to the algorithm without LAM.
After successful completion of anti-TB treatment at month 6, the levels of 16 kDa IgA and 16 kDa IgM dropped significantly whereas LAM IgG and TB-LTBI IgG increased.
Tuberculosis Case Finding With Combined Rapid Point-of-Care Assays (Xpert MTB/RIF and Determine TB LAM) in HIV-Positive Individuals Starting Antiretroviral Therapy in Mozambique.
Urine LAM testing can effectively identify tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients who are at a higher risk of mortality yet are unable to generate a sputum sample for diagnostic testing.
As part of a major project to investigate protective and diagnostic immune markers against tuberculosis (TB), we measured antibody isotype responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens (LAM, Rv2031, and HBHA) in cohorts of 149 pulmonary tuberculosis patients (PTBP), 148 household contacts (HHCs), and 68 community controls (CCs) in an endemic setting.
We found that a large proportion of new TB infections in Vitoria is caused by prevalent Mtb genotypes belonging to the LAM family and RD<sup>Rio</sup> genotypes.
Delayed diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in HIV+ patients in Mozambique: A cost-effectiveness analysis of screening protocols based on four symptom screening, smear microscopy, urine LAM test and Xpert MTB/RIF.
Other useful diagnostic tools at peripheral facilities include chest radiography, urine lipoarabinomannan (TB-LAM) in HIV-infected patients with advanced immunodeficiency, and the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TB-LAMP) test which may be superior to smear microscopy.
Available associated information on gender (n = 18,944), age (n = 16,968), drug resistance (n = 19,606), and HIV serology (n = 2673), allowed to draw some important conclusions on TB geo-epidemiology; e.g. a positive correlation exists between certain Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineages (such as CAS and Beijing) and drug resistance (p-value<.001), while other lineages (such as LAM, X, and BOV) are more frequently associated with HIV-positive serology (p-value<.001).
The diagnostic accuracy of the LF-LAM test was assessed against a microbiological reference standard (definite tuberculosis) or a composite reference standard (definite and probable tuberculosis).
Combining U-LAM with serum antibody detection could provide a simple low-cost method that meets the requirements for a non-sputum-based test for the screening of HIV-associated TB.