**Author details**

**8. Features of desired TB diagnostic procedure**

sion of fighting TB.

can be made possible.

**10. Conclusion**

under normal settings.

**9. Diagnostic research direction**

14 Basic Biology and Applications of Actinobacteria

Currently, the procedure includes medical history, physical examination, chest radiography,

The distinction between and transition from LTBI to active TB as well as differentiation of stages of active TB toward recovery are attributes of a nearly perfect TB diagnostic procedure. This should be coupled with the ability to detect early stages of the TB related health status and a short time to diagnosis. Applicability and convenience of diagnostic (set of) procedures in all life settings are factors to consider when planning a TB diagnostic package. It is not easy to find the majority of these merits in one procedure but a combination of both conventional and molecular tools starting from screening to diagnosis can facilitate the mis-

TB diagnostic research course moves toward blood parameters such as immune response components, protein, and pathological parameters or other tissues (cerebral-spinal fluid). Such parameters shed more light for future informed diagnosis including status and stage of infection or treatment. Converging different research routes may provide an outcome, which shows effects of interactions. For sure there may be antagonistic but also synergistic outcome. For instance, an approach that will detect the presence of the pathogen and also inform about immune status, pathological, or prognostic prediction is required. All in all, instituting programs that focus on screening tests for early detection of the disease can perfectly fit in the strategy of disease control and management. In so doing, disease elimination

There is no single best diagnostic approach that can suit all settings including low-income endemic areas. Some procedures are weak in some aspects and can be complemented by others synergistically. This calls for research focus on combinations of procedures and programs, which give out quick and discriminatory results. For instance, a diagnostic procedure should be able to detect LTBI, active TB and different stages of recovery during treatment. Nevertheless, having programs that focus on screening of the disease in our population will definitely reduce diagnostic as well as treatment costs. This can be done particularly through active case finding (ACF) that will enable screening of TB by systematically searching individuals who would otherwise spontaneously not nock the door and present for care at health facility. In so doing early case detection will be increased particularly in marginalized populations [73–76]. Such areas are devoid of reliable and dedicated diagnostic facility

TST, serologic tests (e.g. IGRA), microbiologic smear (e.g. ZN), and culture [59].

Athumani Msalale Lupindu<sup>1</sup> \*, Erasto Vitus Mbugi2 , Jahash Nzalawahe3 and Abubakar Shaaban Hoza3

\*Address all correspondence to: amsalale@yahoo.com

1 Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

2 Department of Biochemistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

3 Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
