Reappraisal on molecular epidemiology of extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Indochina: common and unique genotype in Thailand and Myanmar

Emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis has become an important public health problem at present[1]. In Indochina, especially for Myanmar and Thailand, the extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an emerging problem[2]. The extensively drug-resistant M. tuberculosis is the most problematic form of drug-resistant tuberculosis, as it shows failure of the presently available second-line antituberculosis drug, which is not effective in the treatment. The genetic mutation is the etiological cause of extensively drug-resistant M. tuberculosis. The genetic epidemiology study on the extensively drug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolate can provide helpful data for local public health planning. Here, the authors reappraise on the available data[34] on molecular epidemiology of extensively drug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates in Thailand and Myanmar. The authors assess the homogenicity of the genotype prevalence of the most common and uncommon genotypes seen in the two countries. Regarding the most common genotype, the Beijing type (SIT1), there is no significant difference of the genotype rates between the two settings (proportion t>0.05). For the most uncommon genotype, Manu-Ancestor Spoligo-International Type 523, there is a significant difference of the genotype rates between the two settings (proportion t<0.05). This can show that there is a common geographical pathoepidemiology of extensively drug-resistant M. tuberculosis. Nevertheless, the unique problematic extensively drug-resistant M. tuberculosis genotype also exists. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.