[Molecular identification and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of blood isolates of the Candida parapsilosis species complex in Venezuela]

Xiomara Moreno; Vera Reviakina; María M Panizo; Giusseppe Ferrara; Nataly García; Víctor Alarcón; María F Garcés; Maribel Dolande

doi:10.1016/j.riam.2016.11.005

[Molecular identification and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of blood isolates of the Candida parapsilosis species complex in Venezuela]

Rev Iberoam Micol. 2017 Jul-Sep;34(3):165-170. doi: 10.1016/j.riam.2016.11.005. Epub 2017 Apr 28.

[Article in Spanish]

Authors

Xiomara Moreno¹, Vera Reviakina², María M Panizo², Giusseppe Ferrara², Nataly García², Víctor Alarcón², María F Garcés³, Maribel Dolande²

Affiliations

¹ Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto Médico La Floresta, Caracas, Venezuela. Electronic address: x.morenoc@hotmail.com.
² Departamento de Micología, Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel, Caracas, Venezuela.
³ Laboratorio de Investigaciones Básicas y Aplicadas, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.

PMID: 28457646
DOI: 10.1016/j.riam.2016.11.005

Abstract

Background: Candida parapsilosis is a species complex consisting of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida orthopsilosis, and Candida metapsilosis. Studies worldwide have described its epidemiology and susceptibility to antifungal agents.

Aims: The aims of this study were to carry out the molecular identification of blood isolates belonging to the Candida parapsilosis species complex, and to determine their in vitro susceptibility to antifungals of systemic use.

Methods: A study of 86 strains of C. parapsilosis species complex collected in 2008-2011 and obtained from the Candidaemia Surveillance Network of Mycology Department of the Rafael Rangel National Institute of Hygiene, was made. Secondary alcohol-dehydrogenase gene amplification was performed using polymerase chain reaction, and the products were analysed by restriction fragments length polymorphisms using the enzyme BanI. Susceptibility tests were performed using Etest^®, following the manufacturer's instructions with modifications.

Results: Of the 86 isolates studied, 81 (94.2%) were C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, 4 (4.6%) C. orthopsilosis, and one (1.2%) C. metapsilosis. C. parapsilosis isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and caspofungin, showing low rates of resistance to fluconazole and voriconazole. C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis were susceptible to all the antifungals tested.

Conclusions: The results obtained in Venezuela provide for the first time important information about the distribution of C. parapsilosis species complex in cases of candidaemia, and support the need for continuing surveillance programs, including molecular discrimination of species and antifungal susceptibility tests, which may guide specific therapy.

Keywords: Antifungal agents; Antifúngicos; Candida metapsilosis; Candida orthopsilosis; Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto; Candida parapsilosis species complex; Candidaemia; Candidemia; Complejo Candida parapsilosis; Sensibilidad; Susceptibility.

Publication types

English Abstract