Assessment of Genetic Markers for Tuberculosis Susceptibility Among Adults in Taraba State

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a leading infectious cause of mortality in Nigeria, disproportionately affecting the North East and North Central zones. Host genetic factors influence susceptibility to TB infection and progression to active disease. This study assessed the frequency of selected genetic markers associated with TB susceptibility among adult TB patients and healthy contacts in Taraba State, North East Nigeria. A case-control design enrolled 100 bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients and 100 household contacts with negative QuantiFERON-TB Gold results. Genomic DNA was extracted from venous blood, and genotyping of the SLC11A1 (formerly NRAMP1) D543N polymorphism was performed using PCR-RFLP. Nutritional status and HIV co-infection status were documented as covariates. The D543N variant allele was detected at a higher frequency among TB cases compared to healthy contacts, suggesting a possible contribution to TB susceptibility in this North Eastern Nigerian population. HIV co-infection significantly elevated TB risk independent of genotype. These findings advocate for expanded host genetics research to inform TB control strategies in Taraba State. Keywords: tuberculosis, SLC11A1, host genetics, susceptibility, Taraba State