Article Category:
Short Report

Conventional DNA Extraction Followed by Real-Time PCR Had Higher Sensitivity for Detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Clinical Samples Compared to Standard Methods

Angel Sebastian Rodriguez-Pazmiño One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Angel Sebastian Rodriguez-Pazmiño in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Bernardo Castro-Rodríguez One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Bernardo Castro-Rodríguez in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Greta Esther Cardenas-Franco One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Greta Esther Cardenas-Franco in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Greta Franco-Sotomayor Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación, Guayaquil, Ecuador;
Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Greta Franco-Sotomayor in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Elsy Carvajal One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Elsy Carvajal in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Joselyn Calderon Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación, Guayaquil, Ecuador;
Universidad Ecotec, Guayaquil, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Joselyn Calderon in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Darwin Santiago Paredes One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Darwin Santiago Paredes in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Heidy Buenaño-Morales Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación, Guayaquil, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Heidy Buenaño-Morales in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Manuel González Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación, Guayaquil, Ecuador;
Universidad Ecotec, Guayaquil, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Manuel González in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Lina Macero Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador;
Hospital de Infectología “Dr. José Daniel Rodríguez Maridueña,” Ministerio de Salud Pública, Guayaquil, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Lina Macero in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Rita García Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador;
Hospital de Infectología “Dr. José Daniel Rodríguez Maridueña,” Ministerio de Salud Pública, Guayaquil, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Rita García in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Solon Alberto Orlando Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación, Guayaquil, Ecuador;
Universidad Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Search for other papers by Solon Alberto Orlando in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador;

Search for other papers by Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.24-0797
Volume/Issue:
Ahead of Print
Open access
Get Permissions

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), remains a significant global health challenge, with an estimated 10.8 million cases diagnosed and 1.25 million deaths in 2023, according to the WHO. In this context, enhancing TB case detection using more sensitive diagnostic methods is essential. Here, we compared the performance of two commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits with the reference standards of smear microscopy, culture, and Gene Xpert. By analyzing 402 clinical specimens, we found that conventional DNA extraction, followed by real-time PCR, using either of the two commercial kits provided the highest sensitivity for detecting MTBC. Positivity values of 48.98–60.07% and 50.34–53.24% were obtained with the commercial kits “VIASURE MTBC + non tuberculous mycobacterias (NTM) Real-Time PCR Detection Kit” (Certest, Spain) and “ANYPLEX™ MTB/NTM Real-Time Detection Kit” (Seegene, South Korea), respectively. In contrast, the reference standards yielded positivity values of 14.75% (smear microscopy), 32.65% (culture), and 28.95% (GeneXpert assay). These alternative methods should be considered as valuable tools to strengthen TB control and prevention strategy.

Author Notes

Current contact information: Angel Sebastian Rodriguez-Pazmiño, Bernardo Castro-Rodríguez, Greta Esther Cardenas-Franco, Elsy Carvajal, Darwin Santiago Paredes, and Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain, One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador, E-mails: sebas.rodriguez.bio@gmail.com, bcr2483@gmail.com, greta_card2210@outlook.es, elsycarvajalv@gmail.com, santy.mh.21@gmail.com, and magbereguiain@gmail.com. Greta Franco-Sotomayor, Joselyn Calderon, Heidy Buenaño-Morales, Manuel González, and Solon Alberto Orlando, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública e Investigación, Guayaquil, Ecuador, E-mails: gretfra@gmail.com, josskatrin@gmail.com, juleisy2394@hotmail.com, mgonzalez@ecotec.edu.ec, and aorlado@gmail.com. Lina Macero and Rita García, Hospital de Infectología “Dr. José Daniel Rodríguez Maridueña,” Ministerio de Salud Pública, Guayaquil, Ecuador, E-mails: linamacero@gmail.com and rita.garcia@ucsg.edu.ec

Address correspondence to Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain, One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Via a Nayon S/N, Quito 170124, Ecuador. E-mail: magbereguiain@gmail.com
Copyright:
© The author(s) 2025
Received:
03 Dec 2024
|
Accepted:
28 Jan 2024
|
Published Online:
01 Apr 2025
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 673 673 673
PDF Downloads 134 134 134
 

 

 

 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save