PCR IS--1081 Gene-based Detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex in lymphocytic Pleural Effusion Samples of Sudanese Patients

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) has the potential to be a serious health problem in Sudan. Early laboratory confirmation of TB can lead to early initiation of treatment and increased opportunities to interrupt transmission. Nucleic acid amplification tests are widely used for detection and species differentiation of Mycobacteria in clinical specimens. This study aimed to detect specific members of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in lymphocytic pleural effusion. 88 pleural effusions were cytologically examined, of which 52 were diagnosed as showing chronic inflammatory reactions. The pleural effusions were from Sudanese patients clinically suspected to have pulmonary tuberculosis. DNA was isolated using DNA extraction kits from Vivants (Malaysia). PCR Amplification of the target sequence (IS-1081 gene, 344 bp) was carried out and then analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Out of the 52 studied samples of lymphocytic pleural effusions, 22 (50%) of the DNA positive samples were positive for IS-1081 gene. Molecular assays of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex can provide rapid diagnosis of the tuberculosis which is one of the major causes of pleural effusions in general and lymphocytic effusions in specific in Sudan.