Molecular identification of candida species isolated from women with vulvovaginal candidiasis: brief report

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common infection, affecting up to 75% of women during their lifetimes. Approximately 5% of patients may experience recurrent VVC. Candida albicans is the most common causative agent of VVC. The objectives of this study were identification of candida species isolated of women with vulvovaginal candidiasis by molecular method in Arak city.
In this descriptive cross-sectional study, between Jun 2015 to March 2016 from 210 patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis referred to gynecology and obstetrics clinics in Arak city, Iran. Vaginal sampling was performed by wet sterile swabs. Samples were collected from vaginal discharge, vaginal posterior fornix, and sides of the vaginal wall. The swabs were investigated for direct exam and cultured on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar medium contain chloramphenicol. Yeast isolates DNA were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Fungal genomic DNA was extracted from each isolate colony, glass bead method and after amplification of ITS1-ITS4 region with PCR assay, digested by MSP I restriction enzyme.
From 210 patients with vulvovaginitis, 95 (45.2%) patients showed VVC. These patients were positive for Candida growth in culture and were infected with one Candida species. The age range of women with vulvovaginitis was between 14-60 years and the most VVC cases were in age group of 21-30 years. The most common Candida species isolated were Candida. albicans (70.5%), C. glabrata (20%), C. tropicalis (7.4%) and C. parapsilosis (2.1%).
Regarding to the results of this study, C. albicans was the most common Candida species, isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis and approximately 30% of this infection causing by non-albicans species of Candida.