How Molecular Epidemiology Can Affect Tuberculosis Control in the Middle East Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

: Nowadays, due to the incidence of specific strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and also increase the rate of drug resistant-TB mortality rate has elevated by this disease. Identification of common strains in the region as well as sources of transmission are essential to control the disease that this has been possible by using molecular epidemiology. In this survey, studies which have been carried out based on spoligotyping method in Muslim Middle East countries were considered to determine their role in control of TB. All studies conducted from 2005 to June 2016 were considered systematically in three electronic data bases and finally, 23 studies were selected. The average rate of clustering was 84% and the rate of recent transmission was variable from 21.7% to 92.4%. Incidence of Beijing strains was been rising in the considered countries. In Iran and Saudi Arabia which are immigration and labour-hosting countries, respectively, rapid transmittable strains and drug resistant Beijings were higher than other considered countries. Considering the incidence of highly virulent strains, due to the increase of immigration and people infected with HIV, tuberculosis, especially drug resistant form, the lack of close monitoring in the future will be induce trouble.