Korean J Med Mycol.  2017 Mar;22(1):15-20. 10.17966/KJMM.2017.22.1.15.

Differentiation of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis using Latex Agglutination Test

• Kim TH
• Lee MK

• KMID: 2377044
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17966/KJMM.2017.22.1.15

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.

Keyword

Candida albicans; Candida dubliniensis; Latex agglutination

MeSH Terms

Agar
Agglutination
Candida albicans*
Candida*
Candidemia
Humans
Korea
Latex Fixation Tests*
Latex*
Prevalence
Seoul
Agar
Latex