Identification of Candida albicans isolated from Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (RVVC) patients by PCR-RFLP method and its drug sensitivity to Zataria multiflora extract

Candida species are the most important causes of fungal infections in humans. Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) covers 20-25 percent of Vulvovaginal forms of infections in women. Candida albicans is the cause of most cases of VVC infection. VVC, especially in the recurrent form, is a physical-mental illness that causes a variety of stresses in patients. Due to side effects of antifungal drugs and increasing drug resistance to these yeasts, researches to find an herbal medicine with fewer side effects and more efficiency should be continued. This study aimed to exactly identify C. albicans species isolated from VVC patients and evaluate its drug sensitivity to Z. multiflora extract. 23 yeasts were Isolated from RVVC patients: 53% C. albicans (15 cases), 35 % C. glabrata (8 cases), and 13 % C. krusei (3 cases). After identification of the yeasts by phenotypic and genotypic methods, cell suspension with 5×104 cells of C. albicans was prepared. Drug sensitivity test performed according to Microdilution NCCLS (CLSI) M27- A method in the microplates with various concentrations of Z. multiflora extract. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the used Z. multiflora extract, for 11, 3, and 1 C. albicans strains, is 8718.75, 17437.5, and 34875 μg/ml, respectively. Our data indicated that this isolated yeasts species from RVVC patients has shown the sensitivity to Z. multiflora extract. It is hoped in the near future that this herbal medicine be the alternative of chemicals drugs and be used to treat RVVC patients