Characterizing tuberculosis genotype clusters along the United States-Mexico border

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2014 Mar;18(3):289-91. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.13.0684.

Abstract

We examined the growth of tuberculosis (TB) genotype clusters during 2005-2010 in the United States, categorized by country of origin and ethnicity of the index case and geographic proximity to the US-Mexico border at the time of TB diagnosis. Nationwide, 38.9% of cases subsequent to Mexico-born index cases were US-born. Among clusters following US-born Hispanic and US-born non-Hispanic index cases, respectively 29.2% and 5.3% of subsequent cluster members were Mexico-born. In border areas, the majority of subsequent cases were Mexico-born following US-born Hispanic (56.4%) and US-born non-Hispanic (55.6%) index cases. These findings suggest that TB transmission commonly occurs between US-born and Mexico-born persons. Along the US-Mexico border, prioritizing TB genotype clusters following US-born index cases for investigation may prevent subsequent cases among both US-born and Mexico-born persons.

MeSH terms

  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Emigration and Immigration
  • Genotype
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Humans
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Residence Characteristics*
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis / ethnology*
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology*
  • Tuberculosis / transmission
  • United States / epidemiology