Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Microbiology 2008-3289 13 1 2021 02 10 58 64 EN Morassa Sadat Farnad Department of Microbiology, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sharekord, Iran Hassan Momtaz Department of Microbiology, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sharekord, Iran Nader Mosavari Department of Tuberculin & Mallein, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran Yahya Khosravi Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Non-communicable Diseases, Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Keyvan Tadayon Department of Microbiology, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sharekord, Iran; Department of Tuberculin & Mallein, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran 2020 01 04 2021 02 08 Background and Objectives: Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates from tuberculosis patients in the multiethnic province of Alborz, Iran was assessed. Materials and Methods: A total of 17 isolates in the period of 2012-2013 were collected and subjected to a Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) consisted of 6 variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTRs) including ETR-A, ETR-B, ETR-C, ElTR-D, ETR-E, ETR-F, 5 Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units including MIRU10, MIRU16, MIRU26, MIRU39, MIRU40, and 1 Queen University of Belfast locus, QUB11. Results: This classified all isolates into 17 distinct MIRU-VNTR types, a reflection of a highly heterogenic population. Within the 12 used VNTR loci, ten proved highly or moderately discriminant according to the calculated HGDI scores. No cluster of isolates was identified in the study panel, giving a clustering rate of 0%, several events of SVL (N=5) and DVL (N=4) and TVL (N=3) were detected. Conclusion: The greater heterogeneity observed here by MLVA-VNTR analysis is most likely due to limited background data in the study region rather than a genuine more heterogeneous population compared to other provinces of the country. https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/2437 https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/download/2437/1316