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

Ashkan Faridi; Azam Amanizadeh; Seyyed Amin Ayatollahi Mosavi; Samira Salari; Davood  Kalantar-Neyestanaki; Somayeh Sharifynia; Setareh  Agha Kuchak Afshari

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i3.9795

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

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i3.9795

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.