Groundwater represents one of the largest safe drinking water sources worldwide; however, it has been threatened by increased human activities in recent years. Candida species express virulence factors that contribute to the establishment and worsening of infections, although little is known about the virulence profiles of these species in potable groundwater. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of yeasts in groundwater from residential wells and to evaluate the antifungal susceptibility profile, hydrolytic enzyme production, adhesion capacity, and biofilm formation of Candida spp. Fifty yeasts representing nine genera were isolated: Candida (48%), Meyerozyma (20%), Pichia (8%), Exophiala (8%), Clavispora (4%), Kodamaea (4%), Rhodotorula (4%), Hanseniaspora (2%), and Kazachstania (2%). Candida parapsilosis was the most commonly isolated species, and approximately 29% of the Candida isolates were resistant to at least one azole. All Candida isolates were able to produce hydrolytic enzymes and adhere to polystyrene, and most were classified as hydrophobic. Candida spp. can establish and form biofilms when cultivated in different media such as Sabouraud broth, water, and calcium hypochlorite. The use of contaminated groundwater for human consumption represents a possible route for the transmission of clinically relevant yeasts that can cause fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, it is important to evaluate and establish effective measures for groundwater treatment to ensure the quality and safety for consumption.
Keywords: Antifungal resistance; Virulence factors; Water microbiology; Yeasts.
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