Publications by authors named "Abolhasan Zia Zarifi"
Background: Relapse of tuberculosis (TB) may develop as the result of reactivation of the endogenous primary infection, or as a result of a exogenous reinfection. This survey evaluated the rate of reactivation versus recent transmission among Iranian and Afghan relapse cases.
Methods: The sputum specimens were digested, examined microscopically for acid-fast bacilli, and inoculated into Löwenstein-Jensen slants by standard procedures.
Background: Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) is a cause of concern, because it renders patients untreatable with available drugs. In this study, we documented the existence and transmission of XDR TB among patients with multidrug-resistant TB. These patients were referred to the National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (Tehran, Iran) for treatment and diagnosis from 2003 to 2005.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe viability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in serial sputum specimens from persistently smear positive patients was evaluated. The assay was based on oxidation-reduction of Alamar Blue and Malachite Green dyes that change their color in response to MTB growth. A total of 280 sputum specimens from 40 persistently smear positive TB patients and 40 sputa from non-tuberculosis patients were digested, decontaminated and examined microscopically.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To evaluate the DNA polymorphism among Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains isolated from new smear positive tuberculosis (TB) patients residing in Tehran capital city of Iran, during the year 2001.
Methods: IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and spoligotyping analyses were performed on 129 M. tuberculosis strains.