Title : Molecular detection of Candida Africana species of the albicans complex on clinical isolates for candidiasis diagnosed at HCA
Abstract:
In hospitals, yeast of the genus Candida species albicans has played an important role in infections for over two decades. It is the fourth most common cause of septicemia in the USA and seventh in Europe. In terms of seriousness, it is associated with a high mortality rate, especially in intensive care. The albicans-like dubliniensis species was described in 1995, and a new variant was suspected in 1999. It has been isolated in Africa, Europe and Asia. Candida africana identified by sequencing of the ITS2 region and the hwp1 gene, phylogenetically suggested as a clade and finally proposed as a distinct species within the albicans complex (L.Theill et al., 2015). What is its true pathogenicity? Infection of the urinary tract occupies first place and is all the more frequent in hospitalized subjects. The aim of our study was to molecularly identify the different strains of the albicans complex isolated in urine over a period of one year. From a total of 58 strains, the prevalence of Candida Africana species was 13.7%, 0% for Candida dubliniensis and 86.2% for Candiada albicans. The target hwp1 gene is a good choice for discriminating species of the albicans complex. We have therefore re-established the identification of C africana in urine. Candida albicans remains the most common candiduria species, but a new species whose pathogenicity is not yet well known was detected in urine.
