Abstract

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Pathogenic Mycobacterium species continue to be public health threat especially in developing countries like Nigeria. This study aimed to identify pathogenic Mycobacterium species in suspected human TB patients at Damaturu Specialist Hospital in Yobe State, Nigeria. A total of 391 sputum samples were examined and tested using standard methods and positive isolates were further subjected to SD-bioline Ag MPT64 test and molecular genotype MTBC for Mycobacterium species identification. The result revealed that 186 samples were positive and 133 (71.51%) were identified as M. tuberculosis, 51(27.42%) were identified as M. africanum and 2(1.17%) were identified as M. bovis. The study revealed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the occurrence of Mycobacterium species among the studied subjects in relation to their gender. However, it is worth noting that 74M. tuberculosis, 30 M. africanum and 2M. bovis isolates were isolated from males while the remaining 59M. tuberculosis, 21M. africanum isolates were from females. The study highlighted the significance of tuberculosis in suspected TB patients and its public health implications and calls for prompt action towards controlling the disease in Damaturu Specialist Hospital, Yobe State and Nigeria in general

Keywords: Genotypic, Humans, Identification, Mycobacterium