Isolation and identification of Nocardia species from bronchial lavage and sputum specimens of patients suspected of Nocardiasis using molecular method based on PCR sequence in Khuzestan province

Nocardia is a member of the Nocardiaceae family. Due to the fact that few studies have been conducted on the prevalence of nocariasis in Khuzestan province, the aim of this study was to isolate and identify nocardia species from bronchial lavage and sputum specimens of patients suspected of nocardiasis using molecular PCR in Khuzestan province.

In this study, 178 bronchial lavage samples and 100 sputum samples were collected from patients suspected of nocardiasis during 1 year and sent to Ahvaz Microbiology Laboratory for more accurate identification, then identified by PCR for gene tracking. 16 S rRNA, NG and Bet were performed and PCR products were sequenced.

In this study, 278 samples including 178 samples of bronchial lavage and 100 samples of sputum taken from patients suspected of neocardiosis were examined. Sequencing results showed that 27 of the samples were positive for Nocardia species. Out of 7 bronchial lavage samples, 6 belonged to N type. Nova and 1 case belong to .N .farcinica. 20 samples belonged to sputum and 8 belonged to N. cyriacigeorgica, 4 samples belonged N .farcinica 3 samples belonged to N. asteroides and 5 samples belonged to N. nova.

The present study shows the high ability of molecular methods in accurate diagnosis of species and species of Nocardia and the need for further study of this disease in future studies is felt more than ever.