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. 2022 Aug 31;77(4):1377-1382.
doi: 10.22092/ARI.2022.357613.2066. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Isolation and Identification of Candida tropicalis as a Cause of Cutaneous Candidiasis in Kalar District, Iraq

H K Maikan  1 , S Jabbar  2 , H Al-Haishawi  3
Affiliations

Isolation and Identification of Candida tropicalis as a Cause of Cutaneous Candidiasis in Kalar District, Iraq

H K Maikan et al. Arch Razi Inst. .

Abstract

Fungal infections are currently causing health issues all over the world, among which are Candida species that cause cutaneous infection. Numerous dermatological studies concentrated on a single species. However, the virulence factors and the spread of specific candidiasis in specific areas have remained poorly understood. Therefore, the current study was designed to shed light on Candida tropicalis, which has been identified as the most prevalent yeast among Candida non-albicans species. Forty specimens were collected from patients with cutaneous fungal infection (25 females and 15 males) and underwent examination. According to conventional identification based on macroscopic and microscopic examinations, eight isolates were identified as C. tropicalis from Candida non-albicans. Molecular diagnosis for internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS4) using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) yielded an amplicon of 520 bp for all isolates. Further investigation of PCR-restriction fragment length using Mitochondrial sorting protein; Msp1 enzyme revealed two bands of 340 and 180 bp. The ITS gene sequence in one isolated species was found to be 98% identical to C. tropicalis strain MYA-3404 chromosome R ATCC CP047875.1. Another isolate shared 98.02% identity with C. tropicalis strain MA6 18S ribosomal RNA gene DQ666188.1, indicating C. tropical species identity, implying that non-Candida species should be considered when diagnosing candidiasis. This study demonstrated the significance of Candida non-albicans, particularly C. tropicalis, in terms of pathogenic potential, the ability to cause potentially fatal systemic infections and candidiasis, and acquired flucozonal resistance with a high mortality rate.

Keywords: Candidiasis; ITS; PCR-RFLP; Candida tropicalis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Colony of Candida species
Figure 2
Figure 2
Microscopic examination with gram stain demonstrating globes to ovoid yeast cells (400x)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Carbohydrate fermentation by Candida tropicalis
Figure 4
Figure 4
PCR for isolates of C. tropicalis Samples were run on an agarose gel, and a 520-bp amplicon was detected for the ITS gene.
Figure 5
Figure 5
PCR-RFLP for PCR product of C. tropicalis isolates
Figure 6
Figure 6
Chlamydospores in Candida tropicalis under a light microscope (400x)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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