molecular identification of candida species in clinical isolates

candida exists as a normal flora on skin and mucosa. the prevalence of candida-induced infections specially mucosal and vaginal infections have been raised in the world in last decade due to increase in predisposing factors. c.albicans is the major etiological agent of candidiasis, but infections due to other species have been increasing. the aim of this study was to determine candida species by using polymerase chain reaction (pcr) in patient with oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis that referred to clinics of babol university of medical sciences, babol, iran. sixty clinical samples were collected from mouth (no= 29) and vagina (no= 31). identification of candida species was done by using a combination of conventional and pcr methods. germ tube and vesicle (chlamidoconidia) were seen in 43(71.67%) and 42(75%) of candida isolates, respectively. assimilation of sugars and gel electrophoresis of pcr products showed that 78.34% and 75% of isolates were c.albicans, respectively, followed by c.parapsilosis, c.guilliermondii, c.tropicalis and c.glabrata.according to our results, c.albicans was the major causative agent in mouth, and also in vulvovaginal candidiasis. we concluded that candida spp. is prevalent in mouth and vagina, indicating the necessity for preventing candidiasis by using some antifungal drugs.