Characterization of M-tuberculosis strains from West African patients by spoligotyping

Analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains was carried out using isolat es collected from 69 Senegalese and 20 Ivory Coast tuberculosis patients. T hese 89 isolates were typed by means of the spoligotyping technique, showin g clusterized populations of bacterial strains. In the Senegalese patients, 35 genetic profiles were observed with 10 clusters of spoligotypes from 44 isolates. Among Ivory Coast patients, 11 spoligotypes were found for 20 is olates. A particular cluster of isolates was evident both in Senegalese (10 ) and Ivory Coast (11) patients. These results show the existence of polymo rphism of the direct repeat region for African M. tuberculosis strains. How ever they suggest that additionnal markers are needed for accurate epidemio logical studies in areas that are highly endemic for tuberculosis. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.