ABSTRACT
Vulvovaginal candidiasis occurs due to the overgrowth of candida in genital system mucosa of females. Symptoms and signs of vulvovaginal candidiasis are unspecific, therefore diagnosis is not certain. The aim of this research was comparison of the result of indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA with culture and direct microscopy examination in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. This was a comparative-descriptive study performed on 87 patients and 50 normal cases as controls. All specimens were examined using direct microscopy, culturing and complimentary test to differentiate the candida species from each other. Serological tests such as indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA were performed on sera of the patients. To compare the quantitative and qualitative data, t-student test, chi-square and exact fisher test were used, if necessary. Out of 87 specimens, 50 cases were diagnosed as vulvovaginal candidiasis. The most frequent isolated pathogens were C.albicans, C.glabrata, C.kefyr, C.inconspicua and C.famata, respectively. Also, in control group, the most frequent pathogens were C.albicans, C.glabrata and C.kefyr, respectively. In this study all of normal cases were negative in indirect immunofluorescence test and in patients group 42 person [84%] were positive and 8 [16%] negative. Control participants were negative in ELISA and in patient group 40 person [80%] were positive and 10 person [20%] negative. It seems in cases that direct microscopic and culturing methods is impossible, ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence can be used as an alternative method