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<p><italic>Candida albicans</italic> remains the most common species isolated from women with vulvovaginal candidiasis. However, closely related species such as <italic>Candida africana</italic> and <italic>Candida dubliniensis</italic> may also occur, although they are often misidentified. The aim of the study was to confirm the phenotypic identification of <italic>C. albicans</italic> and its closely related species isolated from women with genital tract infections by amplification of the <italic>hwp</italic>1 (hyphal wall protein 1) gene in a PCR assay. We report a detailed molecular identification of <italic>C. albicans</italic> and its closely related species among 326 patients in the Małopolska region, Poland. Initial phenotypic identifications were confirmed by amplification of the <italic>hwp</italic>1 gene. Based on molecular analysis, we revealed 307 strains (94.17%) as <italic>C. albicans</italic> and 17 as <italic>C. dubliniensis</italic> (5.22%). No strain of <italic>C. africana</italic> was detected. Two patients h ad co-infection with <italic>C. albicans</italic> and <italic>C. dubliniensis</italic> (0.61%). A PCR assay targeting the <italic>hwp</italic>1 gene was reliable for correctly identifying species among the <italic>C. albicans</italic> complex.<fig id="j_pjm-2023-011_ufig_001" position="float" fig-type="figure">
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</abstract>

Candida albicans remains the most common species isolated from women with vulvovaginal candidiasis. However, closely related species such as Candida africana and Candida dubliniensis may also occur, although they are often misidentified. The aim of the study was to confirm the phenotypic identification of C. albicans and its closely related species isolated from women with genital tract infections by amplification of the hwp1 (hyphal wall protein 1) gene in a PCR assay. We report a detailed molecular identification of C. albicans and its closely related species among 326 patients in the Małopolska region, Poland. Initial phenotypic identifications were confirmed by amplification of the hwp1 gene. Based on molecular analysis, we revealed 307 strains (94.17%) as C. albicans and 17 as C. dubliniensis (5.22%). No strain of C. africana was detected. Two patients h ad co-infection with C. albicans and C. dubliniensis (0.61%). A PCR assay targeting the hwp1 gene was reliable for correctly identifying species among the C. albicans complex.

Prevalence of Closely Related <italic>Candida albicans</italic> Species among Patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Southern Poland Based on the <italic>hwp</italic>1 Gene Amplification

Polish Journal of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Prevalence of Closely Related  Species among Patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Southern Poland Based on the 1 Gene Amplification

Candida albicans remains the most common species isolated from women with vulvovaginal candidiasis. However, closely related species such as Candida africana...

Prevalence of Closely Related Candida albicans Species among Patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Southern Poland Based on the hwp1 Gene Amplification

Article Category: ORIGINAL PAPER

Published Online: Mar 24, 2023

Page range: 69 - 77

Received: Dec 21, 2022

Accepted: Feb 13, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2023-011

Keywords
vaginitis, vulvovaginal candidiasis

© 2023 KAROLINA KLESIEWICZ et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Prevalence of Closely Related Candida albicans Species among Patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Southern Poland Based on the hwp1 Gene Amplification

Article Category: ORIGINAL PAPER

Published Online: Mar 24, 2023

Page range: 69 - 77

Received: Dec 21, 2022

Accepted: Feb 13, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2023-011

Keywordsvaginitis, vulvovaginal candidiasis

© 2023 KAROLINA KLESIEWICZ et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
vaginitis, vulvovaginal candidiasis