Tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death in the world that can easily spread from one individual to another though air.
A rapid diagnosis and consistent therapy is crucial to prevent it from infecting other people and its resistance formation.
From a radiological perspective,
the first stage of identifying a possible tuberculosis infection is made via Thoracic X-rays.
The computer tomography is particularly helpful for the assessment of the disease activity and its associated complications.
Pathogen: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC).
Mycobacteria (genus of Actinobacteria,
family of Mycobacteriaceae) are aerobic.
Species in MTBC include:
M.
africanum,
M.
bovis,
M.
bovis BCG,
M.
canetti, M.
caprae,
M.
microti, M.
mungi,
M.
orygis,
M.
pinnipedii,
M.
suricattae,
M.
tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (95%): main cause of human tuberculosis.
Infection route: Tuberculosis is spread from person to person through the air,
especially through the air by coughs,
sneezes or when talking.
Pathogen reservoir: predominantly humans.
Mycobacterium bovis: main pathogen of intestinal tuberculosis.
Infection route: especially with consumption of contaminated cow's milk.
Pathogen reservoir: predominantly beef cattle.
Diagnosis:
• Microbiological
• Microscopy
• Culture
• DNA detection (PCR)
• Tuberculin skin test
• Interferon test (T-Spot)
- Advantage: no false positive results
- Disadvantage: false negative in immunosuppression / infants
Tuberculosis morphology simulates malignant tumor disease.