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Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to identify genetic pattern of mycobacterium TB strains isolated from Iranian and Afghan TB cases by VNTR method.

Material and Methods: 191 strains of mycobacterium TB isolated from pulmonary TB patients were typed by use of VNTR method from 2006 to 2008. SPSS soft ware was used for data analysis. The allelic diversity of each primer was measured in 2 groups.

Result: The antibiotic resistance was more common in Afghan patients (p≥0.5). Comparison of allele diversity between Iranian Afghan cases revealed VTNR pattern was also more common among Afghan TB cases, except for ETR-E locus that had more variation. Based on differentiation index of all strains, ETR-A locus identified as the most distinctive (HGI≥0.6) ETR-B, ETR- C, ETR-E, ETR-F, MPTR-A loci as median distinctive loci (HGI≥0.4-0.6) and ETR-D as the weakest distinctive locus (HGI=0).

Conclusion: VNTR method is simple, quick, and very stable and is useful for epidemiological studies.

Conflict of Interest: Nill

Received: May 19, 2008      Accepted: August 2, 2008