利用rCFP-10/ESAT-6融合蛋白刺激γ-IFN体外释放测定替代结素皮试检出结核感染的可行性

评估rCFP-10/ESAT-6融合蛋白刺激γ-IFN体外释放测定与结素皮试检出结核感染的敏感性及特异性。对疑似结核病患者共229例进行随机、双盲、平行、对照、前瞻性试验,后经细菌培养证实患结核病的病人共129人,没有结核病史的非结核病患者共100人。以某一特定的γ-IFN体外释放水平及结素皮试反应硬结直径?10 mm为阳性切割值,rCFP-10/ESAT-6融合蛋白刺激γ-IFN体外释放测定的敏感性为96%,显著高于结素皮试(89%)(χ2=4.92;0.025相似文献   

CFP-10/ESAT-6特异性IFN-g释放反应诊断活动性肺结核的研究

前期研究已经建立了基于结核分枝杆菌特异性抗原CFP-10/ESAT-6融合蛋白刺激外周血单核细胞IFN-γ释放反应,本研究旨在证实该方法在活动性肺结核及结核菌潜伏感染诊断中的意义。实验对象包括111例当地医院收治的活动性肺结核病人(病例组)及283例某大学入学新生(健康对照者)。采集肝素抗凝血,分别加入含结核菌抗原CFP-10/ESAT-6、植物血凝素及无刺激物(PBS)的细胞培养孔中,培养过夜,次日收集血清,进行IFN-γ检测。同时,对其中58位病人志愿者及46位健康对照志愿者进行了结核菌素(PPD)皮内变态反应。病例组与健康对照组的PPD皮内变态反应阳性率分别为79.3%(46/58)和76.1%(35/46),无显著差异(P>0.05),表明PPD皮内变态反应不能用于活动性肺结核的检测。病例组IFN-γ体外释放反应的阳性率为95.5%(106/111),而健康对照组阳性率为16.3%(46/283),两组间均存在极显著差异,表明IFN-γ体外释放反应诊断活动性肺结核具有很高的灵敏度(95.5%)与良好的特异性。在健康组中,IFN-γ体外释放反应与PPD皮内变态反应的总符合率为50.0%,且IFN-g体外...     

奶牛结核病诊断方法的比较研究

旨在比较目前实验室用于检测牛结核方法及PPD皮内变态反应检测牛结核的敏感性和特异性.对145头进行了PPD结核菌素实验的牛进行了IFN-γ体外释放试验,ELISA方法检测ESAT-6,CFP-10,MPB70,MPB83四个蛋白的抗体,胶体金检测两种相似蛋白MPB70和MPB83.结果表明,IFN-γ体外释放试验的敏感性和特异性最高,与PPD皮内变态反应有较高的符合性.在抗体检测方面,iELISA的敏感性高于胶体金方法.虽然抗体检测(iELISA和胶体金方法)比细胞介导的免疫方法(IFN-γ和PPD)敏感性要低,前者更适合于检测处于结核病程发展后期的样本,并且可以有效降低假阳性反应.     

结核分枝杆菌海藻糖磷酸磷酸酶诱导小鼠体液和细胞免疫应答

目的 研究结核分枝杆菌(M．tuberculosis)海藻糖磷酸磷酸酶(TPP)诱导小鼠体液和细胞免疫。方法 差速离心分离结核分枝杆菌H37Rv和卡介苗(BCG)的各细胞组分,通过Western杂交检测抗原TPP在结核分枝杆菌H37Rv和BCG中的亚细胞定位情况。分别用5×10~6CFU的BCG和50μg的TPP蛋白免疫C57BL/6小鼠,检测小鼠血清中抗TPP的IgG1和IgG2a抗体效价。取免疫小鼠的脾细胞,体外抗原刺激,用酶联免疫斑点试验(ELISPOT)检测γ干扰素(IFN-γ)分泌细胞。结果 TPP亚细胞定位于结核分枝杆菌H37Rv和BCG的胞壁和细胞膜组分。TPP蛋白免疫后小鼠产生的TPP特异性IgG1和IgG2a抗体效价明显高于BCG免疫小鼠,并且IgG2a的抗体效价高于IgG1。体外抗原刺激TPP蛋白和BCG免疫小鼠的脾细胞,都能诱导较高的IFN-γ分泌。结论 结核分枝杆菌细胞壁蛋白TPP能诱导小鼠Ⅰ型辅助性T细胞介导的免疫反应,可作为抗结核疫苗的候选抗原。     

结核分枝杆菌持续感染小鼠模型的建立及其免疫特征

为建立小鼠结核分枝杆菌持续感染模型并研究其免疫应答特征,选取雌性C57BL/6小鼠,经尾静脉感染结核分枝杆菌H37Rv株,并以异烟肼和利福平联合治疗。分别于感染后4、8、12周处死小鼠,用平板法计数肺和脾荷菌数,酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测血清中特异性抗体水平及亚类,流式细胞术检测CD4+脾淋巴细胞经结核分枝杆菌抗原——纯化蛋白衍生物(PPD)刺激后分泌细胞因子的细胞比例。结果显示,感染4周后小鼠肺和脾荷菌数lg CFU分别达3.67±0.25和3.54±0.24,至少持续8周;药物治疗可有效降低脏器荷菌数。感染12周后,感染组血清中抗结核分枝杆菌特异性抗体水平显著升高(P0.01),且以IgG1为主;治疗组总IgG抗体水平显著低于感染组(P0.01),且IgG2a相对较高(P0.05)。感染组CD4+脾淋巴细胞中γ干扰素(IFN-γ)和白细胞介素2(IL-2)分泌细胞比例显著增加(P0.01和P0.001),而IL-4分泌细胞比例显著降低(P0.01);治疗组IL-2和IL-4分泌细胞比例显著低于正常组(P0.05和P0.01)。本研究建立的小鼠结核分枝杆菌持续感染模型有望用于结核病治疗性疫苗和药物的研发及筛选。     

应用T细胞酶联免疫斑点法诊断人类免疫缺陷病毒感染合并结核潜伏感染的实验研究

目的探讨T细胞酶联免疫斑点法(TSPOT)在我国人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染人群中用于诊断结核潜伏感染的应用价值。方法应用TSPOT-TB试剂盒对68例明确诊断的HIV感染者血液标本进行结核分枝杆菌(Mtb)特异性T细胞的检测,同时对所有病例做结核菌素纯蛋白生物(PPD)试验。结果在HIV感染者总体、CD4<200/μl和CD4>200/μl各组中,TSPOT检测阳性率分别为67.65%、44.44%和70.69%,PPD试验阳性率分别为41.18%、11.11%和46.55%,其中在HIV感染者总体及CD4>200/μl组中TSPOT检测阳性率均高于PPD试验,差异有统计学意义(P均<0.005)。TSPOT检测在CD4<200/μl组中的阳性率低于CD4>200/μl组,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);PPD试验在CD4<200/μl组中的阳性率远低于CD4>200/μl组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论TSPOT检测在我国HIV感染合并结核潜伏感染的早期快速诊断中有较大应用价值,尤其是在CD4细胞计数>200/μl的HIV感染人群中,阳性率高于目前常用的PPD试验。PPD试验阳性率受CD4细胞计数水平的显著影响,而T SPOT检测不首次此因素影响。     

结核分枝杆菌Rv3871抗原优势肽段的克隆表达及抗原性鉴定

目的:为了提高结核病诊断试剂的特异性和敏感性,克隆表达结核分枝杆菌H37Rv株RD1区Rv3871抗原优势肽段,并应用ELISA法对其抗原性进行初步鉴定。方法:利用Biosun生物信息学软件对Rv3871抗原进行表位分析,通过PCR从结核分枝杆菌H37Rv基因组中扩增Rv3871抗原优势肽段编码基因,在大肠杆菌HB101中进行表达,采用间接ELISA法初步评价其抗原性。结果:Rv3871-1肽段检测的敏感性为32.5%(13/40),特异性为97.2%(35/36);Rv3871-2敏感性为45%(18/40),特异性为100%;Rv3871-3敏感性为37.5%(15/40),特异性为91.6%。结论:结核分枝杆菌RD1区Rv3871抗原优势肽段Rv3871-2有较高的特异性和敏感性,有望作为候选抗原用于结核病患者的血清学检测。     

全血γ-干扰素释放试验在结核诊断中的应用价值

目的:评价全血γ-干扰素释放试验在结核病中的诊断价值。方法:将173例疑似结核病患者分为临床明确诊断肺结核63例(肺结核组)、肺外结核43例(肺外结核组)、排除结核67例(非结核组),观察各组γ-干扰素释放试验阳性率。结果:肺结核组、肺外结核组阳性率分别为85.7%(54/63)和88.4%(38/43),显著高于非结核组11.9%(8/67)(P0.01);诊断灵敏度为86.8%,特异度为88.1%。结论:全血γ-干扰素释放试验具有较高灵敏度和特异度,可用于肺结核及肺外结核的辅助诊断,适合临床推广使用。     

DNA疫苗初免-BCG加强免疫法提高小鼠抗结核分枝杆菌感染效率的研究

对结核分枝杆菌DNA四价疫苗(编码Ag85B,MPT64,MPT70和TB10.4抗原)初发免疫、卡介苗(BCG)加强免疫后小鼠产生免疫应答的能力和抗结核杆菌感染效率进行了分析.攻毒后细菌计数结果显示,DNA初免、BCG加强组肺脏和脾脏载菌数的对数值比阴性对照组下降1.0～1.3(P<0.01),且显著低于DNA四价苗和BCG组(P<0.05).3次免疫后,BCG加强组外周血中CD4 和CD8 T淋巴细胞显著增多(P<0.05);经4种抗原分别刺激,BCG加强组脾细胞产生的抗原特异性IFN-γ和IL-2水平显著高于其他免疫组,其中Ag85B抗原诱导产生的IFN-γ浓度为1250ng/L,IL-2浓度为230ng/L,分别是DNA四价苗组的1.6,1.7倍(P<0.05),是BCG组PPD诱导产生相应细胞因子浓度的2.6倍和2.2倍(P<0.05);此外,BCG加强组肺脏中分泌穿孔素的淋巴细胞数量也显著增加(P<0.05).结果表明,DNA初发免疫、BCG加强免疫法能显著提高小鼠CD4 ,CD8 T细胞介导的免疫应答,增强小鼠抗结核杆菌感染能力,是提高结核病疫苗免疫效果的新途径.     

人IFN-γ体外释放检测法的建立及其在结核病诊断中的应用

本研究旨在建立人IFN-γ体外释放检测法,用于人结核病的特异性诊断.克隆表达了人IFN-γ基因,利用纯化的重组IFN-γ免疫小鼠,获得两株高效价的单克隆抗体.用所获得的单克隆抗体及兔抗IFN-γ多克隆抗体建立了检测人IFN-γ的夹心ELISA,检测灵敏度达到31.25 pg/mL.采集111位结核病阳性病人与292位临床健康对照者肝素抗凝全血,利用结核菌特异性抗原ESAT-6/CFP-10融合蛋白体外刺激外周血淋巴细胞释放IFN-γ,用所建立的夹心ELISA及商品化试剂盒平行检测所有样本,结果表明两种方法的检测结果相符.结核患者的检测灵敏度为95.5%,健康对照的阳性检出率为16.7%,患者与健康对照的阳性检出率差异极显著(P<0.01),证实所建立的方法灵敏度与特异性均很高,具有良好的应用前景.     

Interferon-gamma release assay performance in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Background

The diagnosis of tuberculosis remains difficult. This study aimed to assess performance of interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) in diagnosis of active tuberculosis (ATB) with pulmonary and extrapulmonary involvements, and to determine the diagnostic role of IGRA (T-SPOT.TB) and tuberculin skin test (TST) in BCG-vaccinated population.

Methods and Findings

Two hundred twenty-six ATB suspects were recruited and examined with T-SPOT.TB. Among them, fifty-two and seventy-six subjects were simultaneously tested by TST with 5TU or 1TU of purified protein derivative (PPD). The sensitivity of T-SPOT.TB was 94.7% (71/75), comparable in pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease groups (95.6% vs. 93.3%, P>0.05), while the specificity was 84.10% (90/107) but differed in two groups (69.2% vs. 88.9%, P = 0.02). Compared to T-SPOT.TB, TST with 5TU-PPD showed less sensitivity (92.3% vs. 56.4%) and specificity (84.6% vs. 61.5%) (both P<0.01); the sensitivity of TST with 1TU-PPD was 27.8%, and despite its specificity identical to T-SPOT.TB (both 82.8%) positive predictive value (PPV) was only 33.3%. By combining T-SPOT.TB with TST (1TU), the specificity rose to 95%, but the PPV stayed unchanged.

Conclusions

IGRA could function as a powerful immunodiagnostic test to explore pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB, while TST failed to play a reliable or auxiliary role in identifying TB disease and infection in the BCG-vaccinated population.     

Tuberculosis Infection in the United States: Prevalence Estimates from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012

Background

Reexamining the prevalence of persons infected with tuberculosis (TB) is important to determine trends over time. In 2011–2012 a TB component was included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to estimate the reservoir of persons infected with TB.

Methods

Civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population survey participants aged 6 years and older were interviewed regarding their TB history and eligibility for the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test. Once eligibility was confirmed, both tests were conducted. Prevalence and numbers of TST positive (10 mm or greater), IGRA positive, and both TST and IGRA positive were calculated by adjusting for the complex survey design after applying corrections for item nonresponse and digit preference in TST induration measurements. To examine TST positivity over time, data from NHANES 1999–2000 were reanalyzed using the same statistical methods. The TST was performed using Tubersol, a commercially available purified protein derivative (PPD), rather than PPD-S, which was the antigen used in NHANES 1999–2000. Prior patient history of TB vaccination was not collected in this study nor were patients examined for the presence of a Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) vaccine scar.

Results

For NHANES 2011–2012, TST and IGRA results were available for 6,128 (78.4%) and 7,107 (90.9%) eligible participants, respectively. There was no significant difference between the percentage of the U.S. population that was TST positive in 2011–2012 (4.7% [95% CI 3.4–6.3]; 13,276,000 persons) compared with 1999–2000 (4.3%; 3.5–5.3). In 2011–2012 the percentage that was IGRA positive was 5.0% (4.2–5.8) and double TST and IGRA positivity was 2.1% (1.5–2.8). The point estimate of IGRA positivity prevalence in foreign-born persons (15.9%; 13.5–18.7) was lower than for TST (20.5%; 16.1–25.8) in 2011–2012. The point estimate of IGRA positivity prevalence in U.S.-born persons (2.8%; 2.0–3.8) was higher than for TST (1.5%; 0.9–2.6).

Conclusions

No statistically significant decline in the overall estimated prevalence of TST positivity was detected from 1999–2000 to 2011–2012. The prevalence of TB infection, whether measured by TST or IGRA, remains lower among persons born in the United States compared with foreign-born persons.     

Potential Role for IL-2 ELISpot in Differentiating Recent and Remote Infection in Tuberculosis Contact Tracing

Interferon (IFN)-γ release assays (IGRA) have improved tuberculosis contact tracing, but discrimination of recent from remote Mycobacterium tuberculosis contacts is not possible by IGRA alone. We present results of a tuberculosis contact investigation with a new early-secretory-antigenic-target (ESAT)-6 and culture-filtrate-protein (CFP)-10 specific interleukin (IL)-2 ELISpot in addition to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 specific IFN-γ ELISpot and tuberculin skin testing (TST). Results of the TST, IFN-γ ELISpot and IL-2 ELISpot were positive in 6/172 (3.4%), 7/167 (4.2%) and 6/196 (3.1%) of contacts, respectively. Close contact (≥100 hours) to the index case increased the risk of positive results in the IFN-γ ELISpot, TST, and IL-2 ELISpot by 40.8, 19.3, and 2.5 times, respectively. Individuals with a positive IFN-γ ELISpot/negative IL-2 ELISpot result had a median (IQR) duration of index case exposure of 568 hours (133_1000) compared to individuals with a positive IFN-γ ELISpot/positive IL-2 ELISpot result (median = 24 hours; 20_130; p-value = 0.047). Combination of a M. tuberculosis specific IFN-γ ELISpot with a M. tuberculosis specific IL-2 ELISpot significantly improved the identification of individuals with the highest risk of recent M. tuberculosis infection and is a promising method that should be explored to target tuberculosis preventive chemotherapy.     

Cell proliferation and interferon-gamma response to recombinant MBP-3, NarL, MT-10.3, and 16 kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in Brazilian tuberculosis patients

Human pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a worldwide public health problem. In resistant individuals, control of the infection mainly requires development of a Th1 cell immune response with production of cytokines, of which interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)plays an important role. Several antigens from Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex has been described for use in vaccine development or for diagnostic purposes, however little evaluation has been done in endemic area for TB. The proliferative and IFN-gamma human T cell immune responses, to four recombinant proteins (MBP-3, NarL, MT-10.3, 16 kDa) and PPD, of 38 Brazilian TB patients (6 untreated and 32 treated) and 67 controls (38 positive and 29 negative tuberculin skin test - TST) were compared. The highest reactivity mean rate was obtained with PPD followed by 16 kDa in TB patients. While most of the patients (87%) and controls (> 64%) respond to the PPD, 16 kDa was more specifically recognized (> 21%) although less sensitive (54%). When TB patients were divided according to treatment status, opposite to PPD, higher average level of IFN-gamma was induced by 16 kDa in untreated (505 pg/ml) compared to treated TB patients and TST+ (269.8 pg/ml x 221.6 pg/ml, respectively), although the difference was not significant. These data show that in contrast with the other recombinant proteins, the stimulatory potency of 16 kDa to induce proliferative and INF-gamma response was more effective and is more recognized by active TB untreated patients, eliciting in control individuals a more selective immune response than PPD.     

Interferon gamma release assay in diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis: a meta-analysis

Although interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) have been widely used for the diagnosis of latent and active tuberculosis in adults, a relative lack of validation studies in children has led to caution in their clinical interpretation. This meta-analysis systematically evaluated two IGRAs (ELISA and ELISPOT) and the tuberculin skin test (TST). We searched databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Ovid) between January 2000 and January 2011 using search terms of latent tuberculosis infection or tuberculosis and interferon gamma release assay, or T-SPOT.TB test, or QuantiFERON-TB Gold, or ESAT-6, or CFP-10, and child, or childhood, or pediatrics. We also collected data by performing a manual search of references from relevant articles and communicating with selected authors. The meta-analysis was conducted with random effects models to account for heterogeneity between selected studies. The sensitivities of all three tests in active tuberculosis were similar. The pooled sensitivity was 70% for ELISA studies, 62% for ELISPOT studies and 71% for TST. Calculated sensitivities for IGRAs and the TST differ in culture-confirmed tuberculosis [ELISA (85%) vs. ELISPOT (76%) vs. TST (85%)] and clinical diagnosed cases [ELISA (64%) vs. ELISPOT (58%) vs. TST (66%)]. The pooled specificity was 100% for ELISA and 90% for ELISPOT, but was much lower for TST [56% in all included studies and 49% in children with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination]. The agreement between the TST and IGRAs in non-BCG-vaccinated children is higher than that in BCG-vaccinated children. In the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in children, the TST and IGRAs have similar sensitivity. By contrast, the specificity of IGRAs is far greater than the TST, particularly in children with previous BCG vaccination.     

Interferon-Gamma Assay in Combination with Tuberculin Skin Test Are Insufficient for the Diagnosis of Culture-Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Objective

Early diagnosis of infectious cases and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) are important strategies for reducing the incidence of this disease. Unfortunately, traditional TB diagnostic methods are time-consuming and often unreliable. This study compared the accuracy and reliability of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon (IFN)-γ-based assay (IGRA) for the diagnosis of active pulmonary TB Polish cases that could or could not be confirmed by M. tuberculosis (M.tb) culture.

Methods

In total, 126 adult patients with clinically active TB or non-mycobacterial, community-acquired lung diseases (NMLD) hospitalised at the Regional Specialised Hospital of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases and Rehabilitation in Tuszyn, Poland were enrolled in the present study. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value (PPV), negative predicted value (NPV), and analytic accuracy (Acc) of TST and IGRA testing for the diagnosis of culture-positive and culture-negative TB patients were calculated. The quantities of IFN-γ produced in the response to M.tb specific antigens (TB Ag – Nil) in the cultures of blood from patients with active TB and NMLD patients were also analysed.

Results

The IGRA sensitivity in culture-positive and culture-negative TB patients was similar, measuring 65.1% and 55.6%, respectively. The sensitivity of TST did not differ from the parameters designated for IGRA, measuring 55.8% in culture-positive and 64.9% in culture-negative TB. The sensitivity of TST and IGRA was age-dependent and decreased significantly with the age of the patients. No differences in the frequency or intensity of M.tb-stimulated IFN-γ production, as assessed by IGRA testing between culture-positive and culture-negative TB were noticed. Significantly lower concentrations of IFN-γ were observed in patients with advanced TB forms compared with those with mild or moderate TB pathologies.

Conclusions

Our results do not show that a combination of IGRA and TST might be a step forward in the diagnosis of culture-negative TB cases. However, M. tuberculosis-stimulated IFN-γ levels might help to assess the extent of pulmonary TB lesions.     

Within-Subject Variability of Interferon-g Assay Results for Tuberculosis and Boosting Effect of Tuberculin Skin Testing: A Systematic Review

Background

Variability in interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) results for tuberculosis has implications for interpretation of results close to the cut-point, and for defining thresholds for test conversion and reversion. However, little is known about the within-subject variability (reproducibility) of IGRAs. Several national guidelines recommend a two-step testing procedure (tuberculin skin test [TST] followed by IGRA) for the diagnosis of LTBI. However, the effect of a preceding TST on subsequent IGRA results has been reported in studies with apparently conflicting results.

Methodology/Findings

We conducted a systematic review to synthesize evidence on within-subject variability of IGRA results and the potential boosting effect of TST. We searched several databases and reviewed citations of previous reviews on IGRAs. We included studies using commercial IGRAs, in addition to non-commercial versions of the ELISPOT assay. Four studies, fulfilling our predefined criteria, examined within-subject variability and 13 studies evaluated TST effects on subsequent IGRA responses. Meta-analysis was not considered appropriate because of heterogeneity in study methods, assays, and populations. Although based on limited data, within-subject variability was present in all studies but the magnitude varied (16-80%) across studies. A TST induced “boosting” of IGRA responses was demonstrated in several studies and although more pronounced in IGRA-positive (i.e. sensitized) individuals, also occurred in a smaller but not insignificant proportion of IGRA-negative subjects. The TST appeared to affect IGRA responses only after 3 days and may apparently persist for several months, but evidence for this is weak.

Conclusions/Significance

Although reproducibility data are scarce, significant within person IGRA variability has been reported. If confirmed in more studies, this has implications for the interpretation of results close to the cut-point and for definition of conversions and reversions. Although the effect of TST on IGRA results is likely to be inconsequential in IGRA-positive subjects, in IGRA-negative subjects, the interpretation of results may be confounded by a preceding TST if administered more than 3 days prior to an IGRA.     

Cough Aerosol Cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Insights on TST / IGRA Discordance and Transmission Dynamics

Rationale

The diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) is complicated by the absence of a gold standard. Discordance between tuberculin skin tests (TST) and interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) occurs in 10–20% of individuals, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

Methods

We analyzed data from a prospective household contact study that included cough aerosol culture results from index cases, environmental and contact factors. We assessed contacts for LTBI using TST and IGRA at baseline and six weeks. We examined TST/IGRA discordance in qualitative and quantitative analyses, and used multivariable logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equations to analyze predictors of discordance.

Measurements and Results

We included 96 TB patients and 384 contacts. Discordance decreased from 15% at baseline to 8% by six weeks. In adjusted analyses, discordance was related to less crowding (p = 0.004), non-cavitary disease (OR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.02–1.96; p = 0.03), and marginally with BCG vaccination in contacts (OR 1.40, 95% CI: 0.99–1.98, p = 0.06).

Conclusions

We observed significant individual variability and temporal dynamism in TST and IGRA results in household contacts of pulmonary TB cases. Discordance was associated with a less intense infectious exposure, and marginally associated with a BCG-mediated delay in IGRA conversion. Cough aerosols provide an additional dimension to the assessment of infectiousness and risk of infection in contacts.     

The Feasibility of the Interferon Gamma Release Assay and Predictors of Discordance with the Tuberculin Skin Test for the Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in a Remote Aboriginal Community

Background

The tuberculin skin test (TST) is the standard test used to screen for latent TB infection (LTBI) in the northern Canadian territory of Nunavut. Interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) are T cell blood-based assays to diagnose LTBI. The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is part of the routine immunization schedule in Nunavut. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility, and predictors of discordance between the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and the IGRA assay in a medically under-serviced remote arctic Aboriginal population.

Methods

Both the TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (Qiagen group) IGRA tests were offered to people in their homes as part of a public health campaign aimed at high TB risk residential areas in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. Feasibility was measured by the capacity of the staff to do the test successfully as measured by the proportion of results obtained.

Results

In this population of predominantly young Inuit who were mostly BCG vaccinated, the use of IGRA for the diagnosis of LTBI was feasible. IGRA testing resulted in more available test results reaching patients (95.6% vs 90.9% p = 0.02) but took longer (median 8 days (IGRA) vs 2 days (TST), p value <0.0001). 44/256 participants (17.2%) had discordant results. Multivariable regression analysis suggested that discordant results were most likely to have received multiple BCG vaccinations (RR 20.03, 95% CI, 3.94–101.82)), followed by BCG given post infancy (RR 8.13, 95% CI, 2.54–26.03)) and then to a lesser degree when BCG was given in infancy (RR 6.43, 95% CI, 1.72–24.85).

Interpretation

IGRA is feasible in Iqaluit, Nunavut, a remote Arctic community. IGRA testing results in more test results available to patients compared to TST. This test could result in fewer patients requiring latent TB treatment among those previously vaccinated with BCG in a region with limited public health human resources.     

Tuberculin Skin Testing and Treatment Modulates Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Results for Latent Tuberculosis in Migrants

Background

Identifying latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in people migrating from TB endemic regions to low incidence countries is an important control measure. However, no prospective longitudinal comparisons between diagnostic tests used in such migrant populations are available.

Objectives

To compare commercial interferon (IFN)-gamma release assays (IGRAs) and the tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosing LTBI in a migrant population, and the influence of antecedent TST and LTBI treatment on IGRA performance.

Materials and Methods

This cohort study, performed from February to September 2012, assessed longitudinal IGRA and TST responses in Nepalese military recruits recently arrived in the UK. Concomitant T-SPOT.TB, QFT-GIT and TST were performed on day 0, with IGRAs repeated 7 and 200 days later, following treatment for LTBI if necessary.

Results

166 Nepalese recruits were prospectively assessed. At entry, 21 individuals were positive by T-SPOT.TB and 8 individuals by QFT-GIT. There was substantial agreement between TST and T-SPOT.TB positives at baseline (71.4% agreement; κ = 0.62; 95% CI:0.44–0.79), but only moderate concordance between positive IGRAs (38.1% agreement; κ = 0.46; 95% CI:0.25–0.67). When reassessed 7 days following TST, numbers of IGRA-positive individuals changed from 8 to 23 for QFT-GIT (p = 0.0074) and from 21 to 23 for T-SPOT.TB (p = 0.87). This resulted in an increase in IGRA concordance to substantial (64.3% agreement; κ = 0.73; 95% CI:0.58-0.88). Thus, in total on day 0 and day 7 after testing, 29 out of 166 participants (17.5%) provided a positive IGRA and of these 13 were TST negative. Two hundred days after the study commenced and three months after treatment for LTBI was completed by those who were given chemoprophylaxis, 23 and 21 participants were positive by T-SPOT.TB or QFT-GIT respectively. When individual responses were examined longitudinally within this population 35% of the day 7 QFT-GIT-positive, and 19% T-SPOT.TB-positive individuals, were negative by IGRA. When the change in the levels of secreted IFN-γ was examined after chemoprophylaxis the median levels were found to have fallen dramatically by 77.3% from a pre-treatment median concentration of IFN-γ 2.73 IU/ml to a post-treatment median concentration IFN-γ 0.62 (p = 0.0002).

Conclusions

This study suggests differences in the capacity of commercially available IGRAs to identify LTBI in the absence of antecedent TST and that IGRAs, in the time periods examined, may not be the optimal tests to determine the success of chemoprophylaxis for LTBI.