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Molecular Diversity of Aspergilli in Two Iranian Hospitals

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Abstract

The Aspergillus species are main causative agents of various infections such as invasive aspergillosis (IA) in immunocompromised patients and these infections have high mortality rates. In this study, we provide insight in the species causing aspergillosis in Iran based on morphology and sequence data. Clinical (n = 117) and environmental isolates (n = 54) collected during 2010–2016 from University hospitals in Mashhad and Tehran (Iran) were identified both morphologically and molecularly using partial calmodulin (CaM) gene sequences. Clinical cases were identified based on EORTC/MSG criteria. Aspergillus flavus (n = 96, 55%) was the most prevalent species among the clinical and environmental isolates while A. fumigatus (n = 13, 7.5%) ranked fourth after A. tubingensis (n = 23, 13%) and A. welwitchiae (n = 18, 10%). Species such as A. tubingensis, A. welwitschiae, A. fumigatus, A. sydowii, A. neoniger and A. terreus were present in both clinical and environmental samples indicating the possible environmental source of infections. Interestingly, A. niger was isolated only once. Furthermore, 13 other rare and cryptic Aspergillus species were detected. Pulmonary and respiratory disorders (n = 33), followed by transplantation (n = 23), invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (n = 14), and haematological malignancies (n = 12) were major predisposing factors. According to EORTC/MSG criteria, there were 43 probable cases identified followed by 36 cases for each of proven and possible ones. Correct molecular identification will be useful for further epidemiological studies.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Deputy of Research, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran (Grant no. 940005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh

  2. Department of Biology, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

    Somayeh Dolatabadi

  3. Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Hossein Zarrinfar

  4. Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Jos Houbraken

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  1. Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh
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  2. Somayeh Dolatabadi
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Correspondence to Somayeh Dolatabadi.

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This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran (Ethical code: IR.MUMS.fm.REC.1394.252).

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Najafzadeh, M.J., Dolatabadi, S., Zarrinfar, H. et al. Molecular Diversity of Aspergilli in Two Iranian Hospitals. Mycopathologia 186, 519–533 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-021-00563-z

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