Abstract:
This study aimed to test the reliability of mycolic acid IgG antibodies
compared to PCR among patients suspected to have pulmonary tuberculosis
in Khartoum State.
Sputum and blood specimens were collected from patients attended to
Alsha'ab Teaching Hospital, Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Ibrahim
Malik Hospital and Abu Anga Hospital. All patients were priorly informed.
Smear from direct sputum specimens (90) showed that 17 (18.9%) were ZN
positive, while 73 (81.1%) were negative. The 90 sputum specimens were
cultivated on LJ medium and incubated at 37°C, 15 (16%) showed typical
characteristics of M. tuberculosis, the morphological features were dry,
tough and pale color colonies, while 75 (84%) showed no obvious growth
or contaminated.
The biochemical tests showed sensitivity for para nitro benzoic acid test,
negative for thiophin-2- carboxylic acid hydrazide, positive for nitrates
oxidation and negative for catalase test at 68°C.
The ninety sputum specimens were subjected to PCR to ampilify IS6110
segment. The result showed that 79 (87.8%) were positive for IS6110 while
11 (12.2%) were negative.
Eighty Serum samples were analysed by ELISA, 16 (20%) gave positive
result for antimycolic acid IgG while 64 (80%) were negative.
This study suggested that detection of antimycolic acid antibodies is a
promising rapid and reliable technique in the diagnosis of pulmonary
tuberculosis.
