Isolation and characterisation of Candida species from oropharyngeal secretions of HIV positive individuals

• Main Authors: Anaparthy Usharani, M. Bharathi, Cautha Sandhya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Our Dermatology Online 2011-07-01
• Series: Nasza Dermatologia Online
• Subjects: colonization; C. albicans; non albicans species; opportunistic infections; HIV positive individuals
• Online Access: http://odermatol.like.pl/upload/file/4_Isolation%20and%20characterisation.pdf

Material and methods: Oropharyngeal secretions were collected from 100 HIV positive individuals with CD4 counts less than 500, over a period of 4 months from June-September 2010. Samples were processed by standard methods for isolation of candida. Speciation was done by the color of growth on HiCrome agar, germ tube test, pellicle formation on SDA broth, chlamydospore production on CMA, growth at 450c and growth on Pal’s agar. Results: Out of 100, 63 samples were positive for fungal growth. Among 63, 17 samples yielded mixed growth and 46 samples yielded single isolates. Total isolates from 63 samples were 80. C. albicans was the predominant species both in mixed cultures (17 out of 34 mixed isolates i.e 50%) & single isolates (18out of 46 samples i.e 39%) and also in total isolates 35 out of 80 isolates, (43.7%) followed by C. tropicalis (17.6%, 20.9%, 18.7%), C. parapsilosis (20.5%, 6.9% and 12.5%), C. dubliniensis (11.8, 8.7%, 10%) in mixed, single and total isolates respectively. C. krusei and C. glabrata were obtained as single isolates. More positive cases were seen in individuals with CD4 count less than 200/cumm. Cultures (17 out of 34 mixed isolates i.e 50%) and single isolates (18 out of 46 samples i.e 39%) and also in total isolates (43.7%) followed by C. tropicalis (17.6%, 20.9%, 18.7%), C. parapsilosis (20.5%, 6.9%, 12.5%), C. dubliniensis (11.8, 8.7%, 10%) in mixed, single and total isolates respectively. C. krusei and C. glabrata were isolated as single isolates. More positive cases were seen in individuals with CD4 count less than 200/cumm.