Title : Susceptibility pattern of candida species isolated from vaginal candidiasis to fluconazole, voriconazole and extracts of acalypha wilkesiana muell. Arg. and senna alata linn. leaves.
Abstract:
Background
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a fungal infection of the female lower genital tract - the vulva and the vagina, caused by Candida species. Vulvovaginal candidiasis has the following therapeutic challenges; limited number of effective antifungal agenthe ts, toxicity of the available antifungal agenthe ts, resistance of Candida species to commonly used antifungals, relapse of Candida infections and high- st of effective antifungal agents.
Aim
This study was designed to evaluate and compare the susceptibility pattern of Candida species isolated from female subjects to azole antifungals and extracts of Senna alata and Acalypha wilkesiana leaves.
Materials and method
High vaginal swabs were collected from 180 VVC symptomatic patients attending family planning clinic at the two general hospitals in Ibadan. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar and Candida species were isolated. The isolates were subjected to susceptibility testing against fluconazole and voriconazole using agar-disc diffusion methods and results were interpreted using CLSI breakpoint standard. Methanolic extracts of leaves of Senna alata and Acalypha wilkesiana were tested against isolates at 100 and 50mg/ ml were determined using agar-well diffusion methods. The extracts' minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined using agar diffusion method. statistical analysis was done using SPSS package.
Results
Out of the 180 samples cultured 63 (35 %) had isolates of Candida species, of which C. albicans occurred most at (32/63, 50.8 %). Susceptibility to fluconazole was, C. albicans (60 % or 19/32) and C. glabrata (53 % or 10/ 19), while susceptibility to voriconazole was (68% or 22/32) of C. albicans, (73% or 14/19), C. glabrata, (90% or 9/10), C. dublinensis, and the two C. tropicalis (100 % or 2/2). Candida isolates were more susceptible to both Acalypha wilkesiana perc and Senna alata perc leaf extract. Results showed that there was significant (p≤0.05) susceptibility of Acalypha. wilkesiana on C. glabrata, and C. dublinesis compared with the effect of Senna. alata. However, there was no significant difference (p≥0.05) anticandidal effects between of Acalypha. wilkesiana and Senna. alata on C. albicans and C. tropicalis respectively.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that methanolic leaf extracts of Acalypha wilkesiana and Senna alata have anti-candida activities.
Key words: Candida species, Acalpha wilkesiana, Senna alata, fluconazole, voriconazole.
Audience take away:
- The audience will be able to know the occurrence of symptomatic candidiasis in women of childbearing age.
- They will know the susceptibility pattern of candida species to antifungal therapeutic agents and discover that its resistance to azole antifungal needs attention
- Learn that there is the possibility of drug development from our plant extract to combat candidiasis among women.
