Mahzad Erami
Mansooreh Momen-Heravi
Reza Razzaghi
Saeed Alamian

Background: Brucella species are classified based on their pathogenic and genetic properties and hosts. Considering the significance of identifying different biotypes of Brucella from the epidemiological point of view and lack of such information in the city of Kashan, Iran. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the biotypes and strains of Brucella isolated from patients with brucellosis. Methods: This was a descriptive study of ۲۰۶ samples obtained from patients with suspected brucellosis in ۲۰۱۳ in Kashan. BACTEC ۹۰۵۰ culture media was employed to test the samples. Suspected colonies of Brucella were identified through morphology, staining, and biochemical tests. The biotypes were identified by the Razi Research Institute. Lysis tests with the Tbilisi (Tb) phage were performed, the need for CO۲, SH۲ production, sensitivity to basic fuchsin and thionin stains, and the reaction of all the samples to specific antiserum A and M (monospecific) were tested. Results: Fifty (۲۴.۳%) of the ۲۰۶ samples were culture positive. SH۳ production was not detected in any of the isolates, and none of the isolated strains required CO۲. The results of the sensitivity test to basic fuchsin and thionin staining and specific agglutination and phage lysis (phage typing) tests indicated that all the isolated strains were biotype ۱ B. melitansis. Conclusions: The cause of human brucellosis in Kashan and its suburbs was biotype ۱ B. melitensis. The identification of various biotypes of Brucella is important. Similar studies should be performed to detect the presence of new biotypes originating from neighboring countries.