en Molecular Microbiology Molecular Microbiology مقاله کامل Full Length/Original Article <p><strong>Background: </strong>Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an important health problem caused by <em>Candida</em> spp. The aim of this study was molecular identification, phylogenetic analysis, and evaluation of antifungal susceptibility of non-<em>albicans</em> <em>Candida</em> isolates from VVC. <strong>Methods: </strong>Vaginal secretion samples were collected from 550 vaginitis patients at Sayyad Shirazi Medical and Educational Center of Gorgan (Golestan Province, Iran) from May to October 2015. Samples were analyzed using conventional mycological and molecular approaches. Clinical isolates were analyzed with specific PCR using CGL primers, and the internal transcribed spacer region and the D1-D2 domain of the large-subunit rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced. Susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and clotrimazole was determined by the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute.<strong> Results:</strong> In total, 35 non-<em>albicans Candida </em>isolates were identified from VVC patients. The isolates included 27 strains of<em> Candida glabrata </em>(77.1%), 5 <em>Candida krusei </em>(<em>Pichia kudriavzevii</em>; 14.3%), 2 <em>Candida kefyr</em> (<em>Kluyveromyces marxianus</em>; 5.7%), and 1 <em>Candida lusitaniae</em> (<em>Clavispora lusitaniae</em>; 2.9%). The fungicides itraconazole and amphotericin B were effective against all species. One isolate of <em>C. glabrata</em> showed resistance to fluconazole and clotrimazole, and 26 isolates of <em>C. glabrata </em>indicated dose-dependent susceptibility to fluconazole. <em>C. lusitaniae</em> was susceptible in a dose-dependent manner to fluconazole and resistant to clotrimazole. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Non-<em>albicans</em> <em>Candida</em> spp. are common agents of vulvovaginitis, and <em>C. glabrata</em> is the most common species in the tested patients.&nbsp;</p> Candida glabrata, Vulvovaginal candidiasis, Candida krusei 33 41 http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-674&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Ziba Abbasi Nejat Yes International Campus, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shirin Farahyar No Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehraban Falahati No Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahtab Ashrafi Khozani No Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Aga Fateme Hosseini No Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Azamsadat Faiazy No Department of Gynecology, Sayyad Shirazi Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Masoome Ekhtiari No Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Saeideh Hashemi-Hafshenjani No Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran