Whole Blood Mycobacterial Growth Assays for Assessing Human Tuberculosis Susceptibility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Whole blood mycobacterial growth assays (WBMGA) quantify mycobacterial growth in fresh blood samples and may have potential for assessing tuberculosis vaccines and identifying individuals at risk of tuberculosis. We evaluated the evidence for the underlying assumption that WBMGA results can predict tuberculosis susceptibility.

Methods: A systematic search was done for studies assessing associations between WBMGA results and tuberculosis susceptibility.

Development of a Novel Protocol Based on Blood Clot to Improve the Sensitivity of qPCR Detection of in Peripheral Blood Specimens.

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for multicopy genes has emerged as a promising strategy for sensitive detection of parasite DNA. qPCR can be performed from blood samples, which are minimally invasive to collect. However, there is no consensus about what type of blood specimen yields the best sensitivity.

Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) prevalence in associated populations of humans and small ruminants in The Gambia.

Objectives: To simultaneously estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) among adults and small ruminants, and C. burnetii shedding prevalence among small ruminants in households in the Kiang West district of The Gambia, and to assess associated risk factors.

Methods: Sera of 599 adults and 615 small ruminants from 125 compounds within 12 villages were tested for antibodies against C.