<em>Candida africana</em> and <em>Candida dubliniensis</em> as causes of pediatric candiduria: A study using <em>HWP1</em> gene size polymorphism

Abstract

<sec> Background <i>Candida</i> species cause a wide spectrum of disease entities. <i>Candida africana</i> and <i>Candida dubliniensis</i>–members of <i>Candida albicans</i> complex-are currently gaining both clinical and epidemiologic significance. </sec><sec> Materials and methods Totally, 150 pediatric isolates that had previously been identified as <i>C. albicans</i> species complex based on a positive germ tube test were included. The isolates were cultured on CHROMagar <i>Candida</i> medium to ensure their purity and the results of germ tube test. For definitive speciation, PCR amplification and size polymorphism of the <i>hyphal wall protein 1</i> (<i>HWP1</i>) gene was used. The results of <i>HWP1</i>-PCR were confirmed by sequencing the amplified fragments for randomly selected isolates of <i>C. africana</i> and <i>C. dubliniensis</i>. </sec><sec> Results All 150 isolates included in this study were reconfirmed as <i>C. albicans</i> complex on chromogenic media. Based on the <i>HWP1</i> gene size polymorphism, 141 (94%) isolates were identified as <i>C. albicans</i>, 2 (1.33%) as <i>C. africana</i>, and 1 (0.67%) as <i>C. dubliniensis</i>. The remaining 6 (4%) <i>C. albicans</i> complex isolates were a mix of <i>C. albicans</i> and <i>C. africana</i>. All isolates of <i>C. africana</i> and <i>C. dubliniensis</i> have been recovered from cases of candiduria. </sec><sec> Conclusion <i>C. africana</i>, either alone or mixed with <i>C. albicans</i>, could be a cause of candiduria among pediatric patients and should not be ignored. </sec>