Performance of methods for identification of yeasts isolated from blotted water: High prevalence of Candida parapsilosis

Abstract

Yeasts of the Candida genus can colonize epithelium and mucosa of the vertebrate organisms; however these can cause infection in a broad range of body sites. Candida species also can be found in drinking water and they are considered as a potential indicator of water quality. In this study were evaluated three methods to identify yeasts isolated from blotted water (seminested PCR, culture on CHROMagar Candida medium, and Candifast identification system). For this propose, we used 27 isolates from blotted water and compared with 22 clinical isolates from vaginal fluid. Seminested PCR has shown specificity and sensitivity for identification of the Candida species. Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis were the prevalent species from vaginal fluid and blotted water, respectively. Culture on CHROMagar and Candifast system had low agreement with snPCR (40.9% and 45.5%, respectively) in the yeasts identification from vaginal fluid. On the other hand, CHROMagar Candida can be used in the presumptive identification of yeasts isolated from bottled water and it had agreement’s percentage of 81.5% with snPCR method.