Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Isolates from the Central, Eastern and Southeastern Ethiopia

Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from spiritual holy water site attendees in Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study

“…Over half (55.2%) of the isolates in the current study belonged to EA/lineage 4. Consistent with our findings, comparable or higher percentages of EA lineage have been documented in various regions of Ethiopia, including the current study region [ 20 , 27 , 52 ]. Similarly, an earlier investigation conducted in prison settings across different regions of Ethiopia indicated that the lineage 4/EA lineage was the predominant strain [ 58 ].…”

“…The overall sub-lineage clustering rate was 73.3%. The clustering rate of isolates in this study was similar to other reports in the same study region [ 20 , 21 , 52 ], and a multicenter molecular epidemiology study report in Ethiopia [ 51 ]. However, it was higher than the findings of earlier studies in other parts of Ethiopia [ 22 , 36 , [53] , [54] , [55] ].…”

“…The current study demonstrated diverse MTBC lineages dominated by the T and CAS families, with corresponding Euro-American (EA/lineage 4) and East-African-Indian (EAI/lineage 3), which supports earlier review reports [ 56 , 57 ], and multicenter study report in Ethiopia [ 52 ]. Over half (55.2%) of the isolates in the current study belonged to EA/lineage 4.…”

“…This sub-lineage, while in modest number in this study, has previously been documented in several parts of Ethiopia [ 21 , 32 , 39 , 59 , 70 , 71 ]. One earlier multicenter study in Ethiopia also reported a high clustering of SIT41/Turkey (n = 11) sub-lineage [ 52 ]. The detection of this sub-lineage in the current study and earlier similar investigations in Ethiopia highlights its importance and calls for more investigation into its role in the burden of TB disease in the country.…”

“…The widely studied Beijing-sublineage (EA/lineage 2) known for its global distribution, virulent nature, and drug resistance has been reported in certain regions of Ethiopia [ 38 , 52 , 54 , 58 , 71 ]. Supporting previous findings, we identified one SIT1/Beijing sub-lineage in the North Shewa zone study area.…”