Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis To Describe the Transmission Dynamics Among Inuit Residing in Iqaluit Nunavut Using Whole-Genome Sequencing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the last decade, tuberculosis (TB) incidence among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic has been rising. Our aim was to better understand the transmission dynamics of TB in this remote region of Canada using whole-genome sequencing.

Methods

Isolates from patients who had culture-positive pulmonary TB in Iqaluit, Nunavut, between 2009 and 2015 underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The number of transmission events between cases within clusters was calculated using a threshold of a ≤3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference between isolates and then combined with detailed epidemiological data using a reproducible novel algorithm. Social network analysis of epidemiological data was used to support the WGS data analysis.

Results

During the study period, 1

SUBMITTER: Alvarez GG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8204784 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature