Molecular Investigation of Etiologic Agents Causing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

 Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an ordinary infection caused by Candida species. Meanwhile, a shift towards non-albicans Candida (NAC) species has been detected in VVC patients.

 This study aimed at molecular identification of Candida isolates, causing VVC.

 Vaginal secretion samples of 320 non-pregnant vaginitis patients at Shahid Akbar-Abadi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Tehran (Iran) were collected. Samples were evaluated using mycological and molecular approaches. Vaginitis isolates were analyzed with the PCR using NL1 and NL4 primers, and the D1/D2 region of the large-subunit rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced.

 In total, 100 Candida isolates were identified from VVC and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). Candida albicans was the most frequent (51%), followed by C. glabrata (36%), C. krusei (Pichia kudriavzevii) (8%), and C. kefyr (Kluyveromyces marxianus) (5%). 51 and 49% of isolates had C. albicans and NAC, respectively.

 Candida albicans and C. glabrata were the most common agents of vulvovaginal candidiasis. NAC spp. (49%) was found as an important agent associated with VVC.