Detection of virulence factors in Candida species and genotypes of Candida albicans isolated from different clinical specimens

Abstract

C. albicans remains the leading cause of candidiasis worldwide, recent newlineepidemiological reports indicate a change in species distribution with an newlineincreasing frequency of non-albicans Candida species such as C. tropicalis, newlineC.glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. Krusei. The incidence and associated newlineseverity due to candidiasis can be influenced by numerous factors including newlinecharacteristics of the population at risk, standard of the healthcare services newlineavailable, distribution of Candida species, pathogenic nature of strain and newlineprevalence of resistance. In most routine laboratories of clinical microbiology newlinein India; Candida is not identified to the species level beyond C. albicans and newlinesusceptibility testing is not performed. The growing trend in antifungal drug newlineresistance particularly against azole antifungal agents and emergence of new newlinespecies of Candida poses a need for regional surveillance of Candida newlinespecies. This also underlines the need to monitor laboratory data for possible newlineemergence of resistance to select the most appropriate antifungal agent for newlinetherapy. Candida species have been stated as important causative agents of newlinecandidiasis and nosocomial pathogens in several studies reported from India. newlineHowever, comprehensive studies on antifungal susceptibility, virulence factors newlineof Candida species and studies on genotypes of Candida albicans from this newlineregion are required. Hence this study was aimed to present data on newlinedistribution of Candida species, genotypes of Candida albicans, virulence newlineproperties and antifungal resistance rates of isolated Candida from various newlineclinical samples. In view of the present background the study was initiated to newlinedetect and discuss the activity of proteinases, phospholipases, haemolysins newlineand biofilm formation of Candida isolates and genotypes of C. albicans newlineisolated from different clinical specimens along with antifungal resistance newlineprofile. newline