Mycobacterium tuberculosis spoligotypes circulating in the Syrian population: A retrospective study

To characterize by spoligotyping clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) collected between July 2003 and October 2005 from all Syrian provinces (muhafazat).

All isolates (n=96) were cultured and identified by biochemical characteristics. DNA extracts of these samples were amplified by PCR and genotyped by spoligotyping.

Twelve patterns were identified: 46.8% of the strains belonged to T 1 family; 20.8% to LAM 9; 10.4% to CAS; 9.3% to Haarlem 3; 4.1% to Haarlem 1; 2.1% to Family 34; and 1% to each of Family 36, EAI 5, LAM 1, LAM 8, T 3, and X 3 families. The noticeable absence of the Beijing family was not consistent with the patterns reported in most neighboring countries.

A more inclusive study of the Syrian population is necessary to more accurately identify most of the prevailing families in the country.