Phospholipase and proteinase activities of Candida spp. isolates from vulvovaginitis in Iran

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• 作者：S. Shirkhani^a ; A. Sepahvand^b ; ^{fungimed44@yahoo.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; M. Mirzaee^c ; K. Anbari^d
• 关键词：Candida ; Virulence factors ; Vulvovaginal candidiasis
• 刊名：Journal de Mycologie Médicale / Journal of Medical Mycology
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：September 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：26
• 期：3
• 页码：255-260
• 全文大小：366 K

文摘

This study aims to characterize phospholipase and proteinase activities of Candida isolates from 82 vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and to study the relationship of these activities with vulvovaginitis.

Methods

Totally 82 Candida isolates from vagina samples of VVC patients were randomly collected over the period between September and December 2014 from hospitalized patients at the general hospitals of Lorestan province, Iran. Isolates were previously identified by conventional mycological methods. The phospholipase and proteinase activities were evaluated by Egg yolk agar, Tween 80 opacity medium and agar plate methods.

Results

The most common Candida species was identified Candida albicans (n = 34, 41.5%), followed by Candida famata (n = 13, 15.8%), Candida tropicalis (n = 11, 13.4%), and Candida parapsilosis (n = 9, 11%). The most phospholipase activity was observed in Candida colliculosa (40%), followed by C. famata (38.5%), and Candida krusei (33.3%). The findings revealed that the correlation between phospholipase production by Candida spp. and the presence of VVC was not found to be statistically significant (P = 0.91). All Candida spp. exhibited considerable proteinase activity; so that 100% of C. colliculosa, C. parapsilosis, Candida kefyr, and Candida intermedia isolates produced high proteinase activity with Pz 4+ scores. There was a significant correlation between proteinase production by Candida spp. and the presence of VVC (P = 0.009).

Conclusion

The obtained findings revealed that Candida spp. isolates may produce both virulence factors, phospholipase and proteinase. Although the phospholipase production was only observed in < 40% of the isolates; however there was a significant association between proteinase production by Candida spp. and VVC.