Differentiation of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis using Latex Agglutination Test / 대한의진균학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Candida dubliniensis is phenotypically similar to Candida albicans that may be underdiagnosed in clinical laboratory. In 2010, C. dubliniensis was first recovered from blood of a candidemia patient in Seoul, Korea. Also, a simple commercial latex agglutination (LA) test is available. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of C. dubliniensis among isolates in our stocks during 2-years period (2010-2011) and to evaluate the ability of LA test (Bichro-Dubli Fumouze®) for the differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis. METHODS: A total 509 isolates including 504 C. albicans and 5 C. dubliniensis were examined for LA test, the presence of “spiking” on blood agar plate, and the germ tube test. Also all isolates were tested using the VITEK 2 ID-YST system. RESULTS: No C. dubliniensis was found in 504 isolates of initially identified as C. albicans. The LA test was positive only in 5 clinical isolates and 2 type strains of C. dubliniensis. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that the prevalence of C. dubliniensis in Korea is still expected to be extremely low and LA test is very rapid, simple, and reliable tool for the differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.