False positive seroreactivity to brucellosis in tuberculosis patients: A prevalence study

Mojtaba Varshochi, Jafar Majidi, Marjan Amini, Kamyar Ghabili, Mohammadali M. Shoja

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The rising worldwide incidence of tuberculosis (TB) increases the demand for knowledge about its potential seroreactivity with other microbial agents. A few reports and the authors' experiences indicate that tuberculosis may result in a false-positive brucellosis serology. This may cause a diagnostic challenge because of the close clinical resemblance of these two infections. Objective: The aim of the present prevalence study was to elucidate brucellosis seroreactivity in patients with active TB. Methods: Ninety-eight patients with newly diagnosed and active TB were studied using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Wright's and Coombs-Wright's tests. Seventy-five healthy individuals were used as controls. The patients showed signs of recovery after starting a standard anti-TB regimen and had no clinical evidence of brucellosis at a subsequent 6-month follow-up. The data were analyzed statistically by Fisher's exact test using SPSS 11.0. Results: We found that 9.2% of TB patients versus 1.3% of healthy controls had positive results on the anti-Brucella IgG ELISA (P = 0.04). Five TB patients were found to have agglutination on Wright's tests, while none of the controls showed agglutination. Conclusion: Active TB patients may have some seroreactivity with Brucella antigens, and Brucella IgG ELISA may give a false positive in these patients. Clinicians should consider false positive brucellosis seroreactivity in patients with active TB.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)207-210
Number of pages4
JournalInternational Journal of General Medicine
Volume4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Diagnosis
  • ELISA
  • False positive serology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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