Complex clonal features in an mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a two-year-old child

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2006 May;25(5):457-9. doi: 10.1097/01.inf.0000217473.90673.00.

Abstract

The focus of this report is to describe the highly complex clonal features of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates cultured from a 2-year-old child with no risk factors for tuberculosis. Molecular analysis showed that she was coinfected by 2 MTB isolates. The coinfecting isolates showed only subtle genetic differences and shared equivalent infectivity in vitro; however, they were infecting independent anatomic sites (compartmentalized infection). One of the MTB isolates was cultured only from respiratory specimens, whereas the other was isolated from extrarespiratory site (central nervous system).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / microbiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / classification*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Oligonucleotides / analysis
  • Respiratory System / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Meningeal / microbiology*

Substances

  • Oligonucleotides