ABSTRACT
Candida auris is an emerging species responsible for life-threatening infections. Its ability to be resistant to most systemic antifungal classes and its capacity to persist in a hospital environment have led to health concerns. Currently, data about environmental reservoirs are limited but remain essential in control of C. auris spread. The aim of our study was to explore the interactions between C. auris and two free-living amoeba (FLA) species, Vermamoeba vermiformis and Acanthamoeba castellanii, potentially found in the same water environment. Candida auris was incubated with FLA trophozoites or their culture supernatants. The number of FLA and yeasts was determined at different times and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed. Supernatants of FLAs promoted yeast survival and proliferation. Internalization of viable C. auris within both FLA species was also evidenced by TEM. A water environmental reservoir of C. auris can therefore be considered through FLAs and contamination of the hospital water networks would consequently be possible.
Subject(s)
Amoeba/physiology , Candida/physiology , Water Microbiology , Candida/growth & development , Candida albicans/physiology , Cell ProliferationABSTRACT
Between the 24th of June and the 6th of July 2005, nine men came to Fort-de-France emergency department (Martinique, French West Indies) with more or less pronounced pulmonary symptoms associated in two cases with skin lesions. Three weeks before these nine men performed work in a deserted house. The diagnosis of histoplasmosis was based on pulmonary sample mycological analysis (direct examination and culture), molecular biology and serological tests. Interrogatory and environmental investigations on the presumed place of exposition to H. capsulatum var. capsulatum spores allowed confirming how and where contamination took place.
