Isolation, characterization and control of some clinical candida albicans

There has been an increase in fungal infections especially those caused by Candida during the last two decades. This resulted in the development of different antifungal agents. However, emerging of resistance to these antifungal agents has been encountered

The aim of this study: was to evaluate the effect of some plants extracts and volatile oils on the growth of Candida albicans. In addition to detecting synergistic effect of plant extracts and volatile oils when combined with antifungal agents

Methodology: Identification of Candida albicans using colonial morphology, microscopic examination, germ tube test, chlamydospore formation, sucrose assimilation, methyle blue and fluorescence methods were performed. Susceptibility testing of Candida albicans to antifungal drugs, plants extract and volatile oils was assessed. Detection of synergistic effects of combination on Candida albicans strains was performed. Studying the effect of the stress of tested antifungals and natural products on the ultrastructure of Candida albicans using electron microscopy was detected

Results: Out of 70 Candida spp isolated from different clinical speciemens, 18 [25.7%] were identified as Candida albicans. Natural plant extracts and essential oils have an obvious effect in inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans. The most effective plant extracts were mint, dianthus, Eucalyptus and the most effective volatile oils were thyme, lemon, and peppermint. When fluconazole or nystatin was added for some plant extracts or essential oils it resulted in increasing their effectiveness. Using electronic imaging, there was a clear difference in the ultrastructure of the Candida albicans cell before and after treatment with fluconazole or lemon oil, which proves their influence on the composition of these cells

Identification and in vitro susceptibility testing of candida dubliniensis

Candida dubliniensis is pathogenic yeast that is closely related to C. albicans. Recognition of phenotypic characteristics that allow simple detection and differentiation of C. dubliniensis remains a problem in routine yeast identification

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the occurrence of C. dubliniensis in different clinical specimens and to find a useful and cost-effective method for use in diagnostic work. Also to identify susceptibility of isolated C. dubliniensis to both fluconazole and voriconazole

Methods: Three hundreds forty isolates that were presumptively identified as C. albicans were screened for C. dubliniensis by use of germ tube test, chlamydospore production, inability to grow at 45[degree]C, sugar assimilation test with the API 20C AUX yeast identification system and by CHROMagar Candida. Antifungal susceptibility testing of the C. dubliniensis isolates was performed using E-test

Results: Ten [2.9%] isolates were identified as C. dubliniensis [five isolated from oral swabs, three from bronchoalveolar lavage, one from urine and one from vaginal samples]. Susceptibility for C. dubliniensis isolates to fluconazole and voriconazole were 90% and100% respectively. 50% and 90% MICs at which 50 and 90% of isolates tested, were inhibited were [MIC[50] :1 micro g/ml, MIC[90] : 8 micro g/ml] and [MIC[50] : 0.03 micro g/ml, MIC[90] : 0.06 micro g/ml] for fluconazole and voriconazole respectively

Conclusion: Growth at 45[degree]C could constitute a simple, cost effective and reliable method for differentiation of C. dubliniensis from C. albicans. Isolated C. dubliniensis has higher susceptibility to voriconazole than to fluconazole

role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome

The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] as a functional bowel disorder is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to focus on the possible contributors of gut infection and inflammation in the development of this syndrome

Methods: sixty patients suffering from abdominal pain were selected satisfying the inclusion criteria pertinent to individual study groups who were classified into three groups each of 20 patients [Group I, II and III of patients having IBS without antecedent infectious colitis, IBS with antecedent infectious colitis and infectious colitis without IBS respectively].In addition to 10 apparently healthy as control group. Colonoscopy was done for all subjects and rectal biopsies were taken and examined for interleukin I Beta expression level

Results: revealed that tissue interleukin I Beta [IL 1Beta] expression differed significantly among the studied groups, with higher expression in group II compared to other studied groups. There was a significant positive correlation between duration from onset of infectious colitis up to the onset of IBS symptoms and tissue IL 1Beta expression among the studied groups. Significant relation was found between different types of infection and tissue IL 1Beta expression in group II. The highest level of tissue IL-I Beta was associated with E.coli infection. It is concluded that tissue IL1Beta expression might be considered as a predictor for the development of Post infectious-IBS

Detection of rotavirus G and P genotypes among children with acute gastroenteritis

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a leading cause of diarrheal disease mortality among children under five years, mostly in developing world. This study aimed to detect rotavirus among 40 hospitalized infants and children with acute gastroenteritis whose ages ranged from 2-24 months, 22 males and 18 females. Also, a control group of 15 healthy infants and children with a matched age and sex were included in the study. Three different commercial tests for detection of group A rotavirus [Latex agglutination [LA], enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and reverse-transcriptase PCR [RT-PCR]] were used to evaluate fecal specimens obtained from the patients and control group. LA test detected the virus in 24 cases [60%], while the result was 19 cases [47.5%] with ELISA and only 17 cases [42.5%] with RT-PCR. Genotyping showed presence of VP4 gene [P genotype] in 8 cases, VP7 [G genotype] in 6 cases, and a mixed VP4 and VP7 [P and G genotypes] in 3 cases of PCR positive diarrheal samples. The severe clinical manifestations were associated with VP7 genotype. Infection was more in artificial fed infants than breast fed with a significant difference [P <0.05]. Also, infection was more frequent in winter season. Considering PCR as a gold standard, our study reported that ELISA and LA test had a sensitivity of 94.1% and 82.4% respectively and a specificity of 92.1% and 73.7% respectively. In conclusion, ELISA is rapid, sensitive and specific test for detection of rotavirus in stool samples, while RT-PCR is an important method for viral genotyping

Rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and antituberculous drug susceptibility testing using mycobacterial growth indicator tube [MGIT]

Rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and antituberculous drug susceptibility testing [AST] are crucial for the management of multidrug resistant TB [MDR-TB] andextensively drug resistant TB [XDR-TB]. The study included 40 clinically suspect tuberculous patients to evaluate Mycobacterial Growth Indicator tube[MGIT] as a non radiometric culture for detection of myobacteria and performing AST and to compare its results with that of sputum PCR and sputum culture on Lowenstein Jensen [L.J.] medium. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MGIT in mycobacterial detection were 100%, 92.9% and 97.5% respectively as compared to L.J. culture and 90%, 100% and 92.5% respectively as compared to sputum PCR. Mean time of detection of mycobacteria by MGIT was 5.5 + 2.1 days. Drug resistance was 11.1%, 3.7%, 18.5% for and 25.9% for INH, Rifampicin, streptomycin and ethambutol respectively. In Conclusion: MGIT is a rapid, sensitive, specific and accurate culture for detection of mycobacteria as compared to L.J. culture and sputum PCR examination but with less cost than PCR and less duration than L.J culture. It can also be employed for obtaining rapid and accurate AST for standard first line drugs [INH, Rifampicin, Streptomycin and Ethambutol]