The PCR shows the highest detection rate (26%) of mycobacteria compared with culture and acid fast staining. The majority of infections were with M. tuberculosis (18%) and this shows the importance of this mycobacterial co-infection in HIV positive patients in the region of study.

Background and Aims: Apple scar skin disease (ASSD) is one of the destructive diseases of pome fruits which is caused by ASSVd. Case presentation: We report molecular detection of ASSVd in symptomatic apples cv. Red Delicious with simultaneous presence of a new variant of HSVd from Khorasan Razavi province. Conclusion: This is the first report on the association of HSVd with ASSVd in apple trees showing merely symptoms of apple dapple on the fruit.