title: Molecular Characterization of Highly Susceptible Candida africana from Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.
abstract: Phylogenetic studies highlight Candida africana as an atypical variant within Candida albicans species complex which is dominantly recovered from vaginal specimens. This study aimed to characterize C. africana isolates from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) by molecular methods and in vitro susceptibilities. One hundred and fifty-six (48.44%) Candida strains were collected from 322 patients diagnosed with VVC. Of these, 114 (73.07%) were germ tube positive and presented green color on the chromogenic medium, thus classified as C. albicans species complex. One hundred and nine (95.61%) out of 114 isolates were identified as C. albicans, while five (4.38%) isolates were identical with C. africana based on hwp1 PCR. C. africana appeared to be highly susceptible to the tested antifungals. For all strains of C. africana, fluconazole MIC was 2-log2-dilution steps less active than amphotericin B, which in turn was 2-log2-dilution steps and 3-log2-dilution steps less active than other azoles and echinocandin agents, respectively. In conclusion, among the C. albicans species complex, C. albicans predominantly and C. africana rarely occur in vaginal mucosa. Due to limited information on molecular epidemiology of this novel yeast, more studies using molecular methods are needed to elucidate the inter- and intraspecific genomic variations of C. africana isolates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Amir
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yazdanparast
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Sadegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khodavaisy
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fakhim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology/Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shokohi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology/Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Haghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology/Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.|Iranian Social Security Organization, Mazandaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nabili
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology/Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Haniyeh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gholami
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imam Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Imaneh
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology/Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. badalii@yahoo.com.|Molecular Cell Biology Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. badalii@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Badali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: C. africana; In vitro susceptibility; Iran; VVC; hwp1