title: Genotyping of Haemophilus influenzae type b strains and their incidence in the clinical samples isolated from Iranian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is divided into two distinct genotypes, type I and type II, based on the structure of capsular polysaccharides. The capsulation locus of Haemophilus influenzae type b consists of three functionally distinct regions, designated regions 1 to 3. Region III contains hcsA and hcsB genes; however, notable sequence variation in this region can be used to recognize different Hib genotypes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genotype of the Hib strains isolated from patients with invasive disease in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, 8 pairs of primers were used for identification and serotyping of encapsulated Haemophilus influenzae strains, as well as confirmation of species identification. Additionally, in order to identify the capsular genotypes of Haemophilus influenzae type b (type I and II), two additional primer pairs were used to amplify the hcsA gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 50 isolates of H. influenzae, four were found to be type b. Interestingly, among these 4 Hib isolates, 2 strains belonged to the type-II category.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that the prevalence of both Hib types I and II seems to be high in Iran.
authors.affiliation: M.Sc. Student, Department of Microbiology, Kerman Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagherzadeh Khodashahri
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycobacteriology & Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Davar
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Siadat
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Reference Health Laboratories Research Center, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Meghdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdollahpour-Alitappeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycobacteriology & Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzam
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vaziri
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Tecnhnology, Reference Health Laboratories Research Center, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mrjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahnamaye-Farzami
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Milad Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycobacteriology & Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davari
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycobacteriology & Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fateh
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycobacteriology & Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masoumi
keywords: Hib; Iranian patients; genotype; hcsA