• Agada, E. O.
  Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
  




• Ngwai, Y. B.
  Department of Microbiology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
  




• Sar TT
  Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
  

Candida albicans (C. albicans) has been a major causative agent of candidiasis. This study, looked at the molecular diversity of C. albicans associated with vaginal infections in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of one thousand two hundred (1200) High Vaginal Swabs (HVS) samples were collected across the senatorial zones in Nasarawa State namely; Nasarawa North (NN), Nasarawa South (NS) and Nasarawa West (NW). The C. albicans were isolated, identified and confirmed by methods as described by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) including; RapID Yeast Plus System (R8311007) kits, genomic DNA was extracted using the quick Protocle (ZR Fungal DNA miniPrep) DNA extraction kit and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis; Eight oligonucleotides i.e. Primers1(5`-GGGGGTTAGG-3`), 2(5`-GGTGTAGTGT-3`), 3(5`-GTATTGGGGT-3`), 4(5`-GGTTCTGGCA-3`), 5(5`-AGGTCACTGA-3`), 6(5`-AAGGATCAGA-3`),7(5`-CACATGCTTG-3`), and 8 (5`-TAGfATCAGA-3`) were used, the forward (ITS1) and reverse (ITS2: 5`-GCTGCGTTCTTCATCGATGC-3`) primers and the forward (ITS3: 5`-GCATCGATGAAGAACGCAGC-3`) and ITS4 primers were used for amplification of ITS1 and ITS2 regions, respectively. The amplicons of each region for individual yeast isolate was mixed and subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Species identification was based on the unique pattern for each species. Out of 1200 swab samples obtained and analyzed across the Senatorial zones, a total of 144 (12%) were C. albicans positive. In relation to Senatorial zone, each zone had; Nasarawa North (NN) 3.8%, Nasarawa South (NS) 4.2% and Nasarawa West (NW) 4.0%. the RFLP analysis showed that all of the isolates had molecular band weight of 50bp-100bp, with some having other molecular band weights. Eight strains of C. albicans strains A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H were identified. In addition, the distribution of C. albicans strains A and E as while as B and H were 50.0% and 25.0% respectively.