Identification of Cryptic Species of Four Candida Complexes in a Culture Collection

Abstract

<i>Candida</i> spp. are one of the most common causes of fungal infections worldwide. The taxonomy of <i>Candida</i> is controversial and has undergone recent changes due to novel genetically related species. Therefore, some complexes of cryptic species have been proposed. In clinical settings, the correct identification of <i>Candida</i> species is relevant since some species are associated with high resistance to antifungal drugs and increased virulence. This study aimed to identify the species of four <i>Candida</i> complexes (<i>C. albicans</i>, <i>C. glabrata</i>, <i>C. parapsilosis</i>, and <i>C. haemulonii</i>) by molecular methods. This is the first report of six cryptic <i>Candida</i> species in Honduras: <i>C. dubliniensis, C. africana, C. duobushaemulonii, C. orthopsilosis,</i> and <i>C. metapsilosis,</i> and it is also the first report of the allele <i>hwp1-2</i> of <i>C. albicans sensu stricto</i>. It was not possible to demonstrate the existence of <i>C. auris</i> among the isolates of the <i>C. haemulonii</i> complex. We also propose a simple method based on PCR-RFLP for the discrimination of the multi-resistant pathogen <i>C. auris</i> within the <i>C. haemulonii</i> complex.