Identification of Candida species in the clinical laboratory: a review of conventional, commercial, and molecular techniques

Abstract

In healthy individuals, Candida species are considered commensal yeasts of the oral cavity. However, these microorganisms can also act as opportunist pathogens, particularly the so-called non-albicans Candida species that are increasingly recognized as important agents of human infection. Several surveys have documented increased rates of C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, C. dubliniensis, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei in local and systemic fungal infections. Some of these species are resistant to antifungal agents. Consequently, rapid and correct identification of species can play an important role in the management of candidiasis. Conventional methods for identification of Candida species are based on morphological and physiological attributes. However, accurate identification of all isolates from clinical samples is often complex and time-consuming. Hence, several manual and automated rapid commercial systems for identifying these organisms have been developed, some of which may have significant sensitivity issues. To overcome these limitations, newer molecular typing techniques have been developed that allow accurate and rapid identification of Candida species. This study reviewed the current state of identification methods for yeasts, particularly Candida species.

Oral yeast colonization in patients with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome

“…In addition, two emerging species, one from Candida genus ( C. dubliniensis ) and other from Clavispora genus ( C. intermedia ) were also detected in SS patients. Recent studies report an emerging occurrence of these species not only as harmless colonizers but also as potential local and systemic pathogens (Neppelenbroek et al., ), which have proven to be naturally more resistant to the usual antifungal medication fluconazole than C. albicans (Pfaller et al., ; Yang, Barkham, Chan, & Wang, ).…”

Candida bracarensis: Evaluation of Virulence Factors and its Tolerance to Amphotericin B and Fluconazole

“…Concerning its identification, the use of standard chemotaxonomic methods by PCR fingerprinting with primer T3B [7] coupled with single or multiplex PCR are suggested [34].…”

Agreement between RAPD, API20C AUX, CHROMagar Candida and microculture on oral Candida identification

“…Their isolation is used in investigations related to salivary disfunction, oral candidiasis, orofacial pathologies, and immune suppressant status [2][3][4] . There is a variety of methods for identifying Candida species from clinical samples in the oral cavity 5 . The CHROMagar Candida differential medium is commonly used to isolate and identify presumptive C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. tropicalis and C. krusei.…”