Identification of Candida species isolated from vulvovaginitis in Mashhad, Iran by Use of MALDI-TOF MS

Background and Purpose Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common problem in women. The purpose of this study was to identify of Candida species isolated from vulvovaginitis woman suffering vulvovaginitis refered to Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, by use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.  Materials and Methods The 65 clinical samples isolated from Vulvovaginitis women were collected in Ghaem Hospital. All specimens were identified using phenotypic techniques such as microscopy and culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar and corn meal agar medium,Then, All isolates were detected and were processed for MALDI TOF MS identification. Results  Of the 65 isolates analyzed, 61 (93.8%) were recognised by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and for four isolates (6.1%) only not relabile identifications were achieved. In this study, the most frequently isolated species were Candida albicans (58.5%), followed by Candida tropicalis (16.9%), Candida glabrata (7.7%), Candida parapsilosis (7.7%) and Candida guillermondii (3.1%).  Conclusion presented results demonstrate that the MALDI TOF mass spectrometry is a fast and reliable technique, and has the potential to replace conventional phenotypic identification of Candida species and other yeast strains routinely isolated in clinical microbiology laboratories.