Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: July | Volume: 5 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 11-17
Speciation and Detection of Virulence Factors in Various Candida Isolates
Ramya T G1, Veena M2, Spoorthi. K. U3
1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Karuna Medical College, Vilayodi, Chittur, Palakkad, Kerala-678103
2Associate Professor, S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences, NH4 Bypass Road, Post Box No.1, Davanagere, Karnataka-577005
3Microbiologist, Anand diagnostic laboratory, Bowring Tower, No.54, Bowring Hospital Road, Shivajinagar, Bangalore-560001
Corresponding Author: Ramya T G
ABSTRACT
Background: The last few decades have evidenced a rampant increase in the number and severity of Candida infections. Although non albicans Candida species are on a rise, Candida albicans continues to rank first among all Candida species isolated. Virulence attributes of Candida include adherence to host tissue, production of phospholipase, proteinase, coagulase, hemolysin and others. Recently biofilm production is also accounting for its heightened virulence.
Objectives: The present study was initiated to speciate and detect different virulence factors of various Candida isolates.
Materials and Methods: 92 Candida isolates from103 clinical specimens like pus(20), vaginal discharge(22), urine(28), blood(16), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (02), gastric aspirate(02), bronchial brush sampling (02) were included and processed as per standard protocol. The speciation was done using CHROM agar Candida (Hi Media) and further confirmed by germ tube test and chlamydospore formation in cornmeal agar. The virulence factors detected were biofilm by tube and microtitre plate method, phospholipase in egg yolk agar, Coagulase by slide and tube method and hemolysin production. Additionally antifungal susceptibility was done using Fluconazole and Voriconazole discs by Kirby Bauer method as per CLSI guidelines.
Results: Among the 92 Candida isolates, 46(50%) were C.albicans, 20(21.7%) C.tropicalis, 10(10.9%) C.glabrata, 9(9.8%) C.krusei and 7(7.6%) C.parapsilosis.43 isolates were strong biofilm producers, 34 expressed phospholipase, 44 were coagulase positive and 31 showed hemolysis. C.albicans was the most virulent of all the species followed by C.tropicalis, C.glabrata and C.parapsilosis.49 isolates were resistant to both Fluconazole and Voriconazole among which 21 were C.albicans, 15 C.tropicalis and 09 C.glabrata.
Conclusion: The above results emphasize the need of future studies on the expression of virulence factors and their resistance profile which in turn may open up new options for therapeutic interventions.
Key words: Speciation, virulence factors, Candida isolates, Chrom agar.
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