Introduction: Knowledge about Mycobacteriumtuberculosis lineages is important to understand the origin, evolution and spreadof this bacterium.
Objective: Determine the genetic patterns of M. tuberculosis circulatingin Cuba.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with an analyticalcomponent in Cuba in the period extending from January 2009 to December 2010.Spacer oligonucleotide typing (Spoligotyping) was applied to 308 M. tuberculosisisolates from the period 2009-2010. Classification into genotypes was carriedout according to the international database SpolDB4. Results were additionallyanalyzed with the online tool MIRU-VNTRplus and compared with the M. tuberculosisgenetic patterns found in Cuba in 1993-1995.
Results: 79 different genotypic patterns were defined, of which 46 (62%)had not been previously reported in SpolDB4. The 22 clusters defined included75.4% of the isolates studied. Five main genetic families were found: Beijing(25.6%), S (19.2%), LAM (16.9%), Haarlem (16.9%) and T (5.8%). The S familyprevailed in the Western region (OR=3.4; CI 95%:1.8-6.3; p<0.05), Beijingin Central Cuba (OR=6.7; CI 95%:3.7-11.9; p<0.05), and LAM (OR=3.0; CI 95%:1.6-5.6;p<0.05) and Haarlem in the Eastern region (OR=1.8; CI 95%:1.0-3.4; p<0.05).
Conclusions: Great diversity was observed among the M. tuberculosis isolatescirculating in Cuba in the period 2009-2010. The genetic structure of M. tuberculosishas changed in the country with the passing of time, with a reduction in endemicgenotypes like Haarlem and T, and a significant increase in S and Beijing. Thesedata contribute important information for epidemiology and TB control in Cuba.
