Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Candida species isolated from some domestic insects in Diwaniya city / Al – Qadisiya governorate

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify and characterize the Candida species isolates from external surfaces of American cockroaches and houseflies by using Hichrome Candida agar as differential culture medium, germ tube , chlamydospore production and carbohydrate assimilation test. Genotypic confirmation was performed by PCR. The results of this study showed that the predominant Candida species included C. albicans(44.6%), C. glabrata(23%), C.krusei(19.6%), C. tropicalis(7.4%), C. dubliniensis(3.6%) and C. parapsilisis (1.8%) . All 27 strains indicative of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were confirmed by PCR as C.albicans (25 isolates) and C. dubliniensis (2isolates). The study should no difference between the species of Candida strains from American cockroaches and houseflies except that C. parapsilisis and C.dubliniensis which were isolated from American cockroaches. Antifungal susceptibility revealed that nystatin (98%) and fluconazole (89.3%) were highly effective against Candida species , on the hand , the highest resistance was observed in the case of ketoconazole (16%) and MICs method was excellent for determining the levels of dosage pattern for each species compare with disc diffusion method.