Aetiological diagnostics of diseases caused by Mycobacteria
The article presents an overview of taxonomy of mycobacteria, conditions of their survival and preservation in the environment and ways of transmission. Information about classification of tuberculosis and mycobacteriosis is presented as well as actual epidemiological situation in Russia and world-wide, including data on HIV-positive patients. The paper covers the topic of diagnosis and differential diagnosis of tuberculosis, mycobacteriosis and adverse reactions to BCG vaccination, indications to screening, description of the groups of risk. Special attention is paid to laboratory methods of diagnosis: Ziehl-Neelsen and fluorescent microscopy, immunohistochemistry, culture methods with the use of Lövenstein-Jensen and liquid media, molecular and immunological assays, sensitivity and specificity of given methods. Each of assays (staining, culture, molecular assays and IGRA) is explained on the standpoints of evidence-based medicine. In this paper we try to describe methods of molecular analysis regarding the early detection in specimens and isolates, identification, differentiation and detection of drug resistance.