Table 1.
Mycobacterium spp. from smear-positive and smear-negative sputum samples (n = 47) tested by trained Cricetomys gambianus ratsa
| Mycobacterial designation | No. of samples |
Distribution (%) | Rat-positive samples |
Rat-negative samples |
Detection (%) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Smear+ | Smear− | Total | Smear+ | Smear− | Total | Smear+ | Smear− | |||
| M. tuberculosis | 37 | 25 | 12 | 78.7 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 75.7 |
| NTM | 8 | 1 | 7 | 17.0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 50.0 |
| M. avium subsp. hominissuis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| M. intracellulare | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
a
Smear positive, smear+; smear negative, smear−. The combined rat-positive sputum samples (detection) with NTM and M. avium subsp. hominissuis and M. intracellulare is 40%.