Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Nigerian journal of clinical practice, cilt.24, sa.6, ss.853-859, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Aims: The aim of this study was to identify C. parapsilosis complex strains
isolated from various clinical samples by sequence analysis and to investigate
whether there are any differences between the species in terms of virulence
factors and antifungal susceptibility. Methods: The study included a total of 42
isolates identified as C. parapsilosis complex based on the color they formed in
chromogenic medium, colony morphology, and microscopic appearance in Corn
Meal‑Tween 80 Agar and they were confirmed with API 20 C AUX. For the DNA
sequence analysis of clinical isolates, V9G forward and LS reverse primers were
used as well as internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS4). Biofilm formation,
esterase, phospholipase, and protease activities were evaluated as virulence factors.
Antifungal susceptibility was investigated via colorimetric microdilution method.
Results: A total of 75 non‑C. albicans isolates were obtained from various
clinical samples between 2016 and 2017 in a Turkish Tertiary Care Hospital. Of
them, 42 were identified as members of the C. parapsilosis complex. Of the 42
strains, 41 were identified as C. parapsilosis sensu stricto (CpSS), while only
one was identified as C. orthopsilosis. Of the CpSS strains, 31 (75.6%) were
biofilm‑positive, six (14.6%) were esterase‑positive, nine (21.9%) were positive
for phospholipase activity, and 31 (75.6%) were positive for protease formation,
whereas all virulence factors of C. orthopsilosis strain were found to be negative.
All CpSS strains were found susceptible to amphotericin B, echinocandins, and
flucytosine. Conclusions: It has been concluded that the use of molecular methods
to identify CpSS would not be effective in routine laboratory practices as it is the
most commonly isolated species from the C. parapsilosis complex and there are
no significant differences between species in terms of antifungal susceptibility