en Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases Short Communication Short Communication <p> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue font-size: 10pt">Background: </span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt">Influenza A virus is the most virulent human pathogen and causes the most serious problem. Having epidemiological knowledge about this disease is important. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of influenza A/H3N2 virus infection in northern Iran from 2011 to 2013 using the real-t</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt">ime polymerase chain reaction </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt">(RT-PCR).<b><i><span style="color: blue"><o:p /></span></i></b></span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue font-size: 10pt">Methods:</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt"> In this cross-sectional study 57 samples were collected from patients with influenza-like illness (T≥ 38 °C and cough or sore throat. Influenza-RNA was extracted from the samples using </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt mso-bidi-language: FA">PureLink^TMViral RNA/DNA Kit. RT-PCR was one using SuperScript III Platinum, Quantitive Real Time PCR system from invitrogen </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt">with a specific type of primers and probs</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt mso-bidi-language: FA">.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt"> All samples were examined in the Influenza laboratory of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences.<span class="longtext"><span style="background: white color: black"><o:p /></span></span></span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue font-size: 10pt">Results:</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt"> The mean age of patients was 38.2±14.5 year, 278 (48.69%) were males and 293 (51.31%) females. A total number of 201 patients (35.2%) were diagnosed as influenza A1 H3 N2 infection.<span class="longtext"><span style="background: white color: black"><o:p /></span></span></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"> </font><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue font-family: "Times New Roman",serif font-size: 10pt mso-ansi-language: EN-US mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" mso-fareast-language: EN-US mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Conclusion: </span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif font-size: 10pt mso-ansi-language: EN-US mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" mso-fareast-language: EN-US mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">The results show that the prevalence of A/H3N2 in the North of Iran is considerable and needs more attention for preventive measures</span></font> Influenza A, Influenza A/H3N2, Swine flu, Season flu 116 119 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-17&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mohammadreza Haghshenas 10031947532846003083 10031947532846003083 No Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Elham Jafarian 10031947532846003084 10031947532846003084 No Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Farhang Babamahmoodi farhang.baba@yahoo.com 10031947532846003085 10031947532846003085 Yes Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Ahmad Tabrizi 10031947532846003086 10031947532846003086 No Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Sharbano Nandoost 10031947532846003087 10031947532846003087 No . Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Reza Alizadeh-Navaei 10031947532846003088 10031947532846003088 No Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran