Molecular discrimination and antifungal susceptibility profile of cryptic Candida albicans complex species isolated from patients in Iran

  • Ashkan Faridi Student Research Committee, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  • Azam Amanizadeh Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  • Seyyed Amin Ayatollahi Mosavi Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  • Samira Salari Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  • Davood Kalantar-Neyestanaki Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  • Somayeh Sharifynia Clinical Tuberculosis and Epidemiology Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • Setareh Agha Kuchak Afshari Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Keywords: Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Polymerase chain reaction; Amphotericin B; Itraconazole

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Candida albicans complex species are well known as the main cause of candidiasis, particu- larly among susceptible individuals. In this study, we report the genetic diversity of Candida spp. and the antifungal suscep- tibility pattern of the cryptic C. albicans complex isolates in Kerman, Iran.

Materials and Methods: A total of 112 yeast isolates were obtained from different clinical samples, and molecular identifi- cation was performed. All C. albicans complex isolates were tested for susceptibility of them to amphotericin B, fluconazole, and itraconazole.

Results: The majority of clinical isolates were C. albicans complex (n=48) followed by C. glabrata complex (n=34), C. parapsilosis complex (n=21), and C. krusei (n=9). Among C. albicans complex, 45 isolates were C. albicans (94%), 2 iso- lates were C. dubliniensis (4%), and 1 isolate was C. africana (2%). Amphotericin B was the most active antifungal, whereas. 8.9% and 6.7% of the isolates were resistant to fluconazole and itraconazole, respectively.

Conclusion: Regarding the high incidence of Candida infections particularly in susceptible populations and the emergence of an infrequent yeast species with elevated MICs, which is indistinguishable with conventional methods, developing accu- rate molecular methods for laboratory diagnosis should be considered in the clinical setting.

Published
2022-06-20
Section
Articles