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Background and Objective: Hemoglobinopathies are among the most prevalent genetic disorders worldwide, and occur as a result of mutations in the gene involved in synthesizing hemoglobin chains. By now more than 1000 defects in hemoglobin chains are discovered. Hemoglobin D (Hb D) is one of these disorders, identified by a single nucleotide mutation on codon 121 of beta globin chain. This study was carried out to evaluate Hb D mutations through molecular methods in Mazandaran province of Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive laboratory study was done on 70 patients with an electrophoresis band in hemoglobin-S zone in Mazandaran province of Iran during 2010-11. Capillary zone electrophoresis was done to find out Hb D in 51 patients. Subsequently, PCR-RFLP was performed to evaluate the samples at molecular level. Results: Molecular investigation revealed all cases are carriers of hemoglobin D-Punjab. Two patients were shown to be homozygote carriers of the abnormal gene. Conclusion: This study showed all Hb D affected patients were carriers of Hb D Punjab.

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Background and Objective: Hemoglobin D-Punjab is one of the variant of hemoglobin caused by a mutation on position 121 of beta globin gene which is frequent in India, Pakistan and Iran. Heterozygote form of this variant is mainly asymptomatic while in combination with hemoglobin S, severe form of anemia occure. This study was carried out to determine the beta globin gene haplotypes associated with hemoglobin D-Punjab in Northern Iran. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on families of 18 individuals whom were carriers of hemoglobin D-Punjab in Sari in Northern Iran. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples using Phenol-chloroform standard protocol. In order to identify different haplotypes associated with hemoglobin D-Punjab, PCR-RFLP method and family linkage analysis were used. Results: In 17 subjects hemoglobin D-Punjab was linked to [+ - - - - + +] haplotype and in one case association with [- + + - + + +] haplotype was observed. Conclusion: The hemoglobin D-Punjab alleles have mainly unicentric origin and [- + + - + + +] rare haplotype may have different genetic origin or is created as a result of gene recombination.

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Background and Objective: Identification of Fasciola species is important. Fascioliasis is one of the important diseases in animals and humans caused by genus Fasciola. This study was done to determine the identification of Fasciola species with RFLP-PCR in animal liver in Gorgan City, northern Iran.
Methods: In this descriptive study, worms were obtained from the livers of infected sheep and cattle in Gorgan slaughterhouse in northern Iran. DNA of worms was extracted with phenol- chloroform method. Fragment of ITS-1 genome was amplified and TasI enzyme was utilized for amplified fragments then 8 samples were sequenced.
Results: A total of 49 Fasciola worms were isolated from infected cattle and sheep. The PCR products of all specimens were affected by the TasI enzyme, and F.hepatica species showed two fragments and F.gigantica species indicated three fragments. The enzyme in F.hepatica species showed a fragment of 151 bp and a fragment of 312, but in the F.gigantica, three fragments were 151, 93 and 219 bp. 36 (73.46%) worms were identified as Fasciola gigantica and 13 (26.53%) worms were identified as Fasciola hepatica. Out of the six infected sheep liver, 22 were isolated from the Fasciola worms, 13 (59.1%) of which were F.hepatica and 9 (40.9%) of them were F.gigantica. Out of the six infected cattle liver, 27 Fasciola worms were identified, all of which were identified as Fasciola gigantica (100%).
Conclusion: This study showed that Fasciola gigantica is the dominant species in infected livers of the cattle in Gorgan city.

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Background and Objective: Candida species are the second most common cause of vaginitis in worldwide after bacterial agents. This study was performed to determine the etiological factors of Candida vulvovaginitis in pregnant women.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study, was performed on 100 pregnant women with vaginal discomfort that referring to gynecologic and obstetric clinics of the Sanandaj Social Security Hospital, Kurdistan province, Iran during 2016. After obtaining informed consent and collecting background information using a questionnaire, the patients were examined by a specialist physician and samples were collected. Identification of isolates was done based on colony color and also using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.
Results: Candida vulvovaginitis was seen in 29% of women. Candida albicans were the most common cause of the disease (86.2%) followed by Candida paraposilosis (10.43%) and Candida glabrat (45.3%) . There was no significant relationship between diabetes and candida vulvovaginitis. There was a significant relationship between the history of antibiotic usage, age over 35 and third trimester of pregnancy with Candida vulvaginitis (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence of Candida vulvovaginal candidiasis was 29% and Candida Albicans was the most common cause of the disease.