title: Molecular identification and distribution profile of Candida species isolated from Iranian patients.
abstract: A total of 855 yeast strains isolated from different clinical specimens, mainly nail (42%) and vulva-vagina (25%) were identified by a set of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). Genomic DNA was extracted from fresh colonies using Whatman FTA Card technology. PCR assays were performed on the complete ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA-ITS) region for all isolates and species identification was carried out through their specific electrophoretic profiles after digestion with the enzyme MspI. Those isolates suspected as Candida parapsilosis group were then subjected to amplification of the secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (SADH) gene and restriction digestion with NlaIII enzyme. In total, 71.1% of the strains were obtained from females and 28.9% from males. The age group of 31-40 years consisted of the highest frequency of patients with candidiasis. Candida albicans was the predominant species (58.6%) followed by C. parapsilosis (11.0%), C. glabrata (8.3%), C. tropicalis (7.0%), C. kefyr (5.8%), C. krusei (4.4%), C. orthopsilosis (2.1%), and C. guilliermondii (0.6%). A few strains of C. lusitaniae, C. rugosa, C. intermedia, C. inconspicua, C. neoformans and S. cerevisiae were isolated. We could not identify 8 (0.9%) isolates. Candida albicans remains the most frequently species isolated from Iranian patients; however, the number of non-C. albicans Candida species looks to be increasing. The simple and reliable PCR-RFLP system used in the study has the potential to identify most clinically isolated yeasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rasoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirhendi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezaei-Matehkolaei
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghahri
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shidfar
authors.forename: Nilufar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jalalizand
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019003:Deoxyribonuclease HpaII / Q000378:metabolism; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; D019003:Deoxyribonuclease HpaII; C048422:endodeoxyribonuclease NlaIII; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific