Original Research Article DOI: 10.18231/2394-5478.2018.0022 Indian Journal of Microbiology Research, January-March, 2018;5(1):106-109 106 Prevalence of virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species isolated from clinical specimens Selvaraj Stephen 1 , Pramodhinii S. 2,* , Shanmugam J. 3 , Bhuvaneshwar D. 4 1 Professor, 2 Associate Professor, 3 Emeritus Professor, 4 M.Sc Student, Dept. of Microbiology, Mahatama Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Shree Balaji Vidhyapeeth (Deemed University), Puducherry, India *Corresponding Author: Email: pramodhinis@gmail.com Abstract Introduction: The main aim of our study is to isolate and identify Candida species from clinical samples and to detect the virulence markers and also to determine their susceptibilities to various antifungal agents. Materials and Methods: Eighty Candida isolates from respiratory samples were included in the study. Detection of various virulence markers of candida spp such as Phospholipase, Proteinase, Hemolysin and Biofilm production was carried out by Phenotypic methods. Antifungal susceptibility testing of the isolated yeasts for Amphotericin B, Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Caspofungin and Voriconazole was determined by E-test methods. Results: In our study, most common spp isolated was Candida albicans(65%) followed by Candida tropicalis(15%) and Candida glabrata(10%).Prevalence percentage of virulence factors such as Hemolysin, Proteinase, Biofilm and Phospholipase production in Candida spp were 85%, 77.5%, 68.8% and 45% respectively. The susceptibility pattern of Candida isolates to antifungal agents showed highest resistant rate of 33.8% for Itraconazole and lowest resistant rate of 2.5% for Caspofungin. Conclusion: Presence of virulence factors in Candida species might indicate invasiveness and its relation with infection. Hence the significance of virulence determination and antifungal susceptibility testing should be adopted as a routine procedure in the laboratory. Keywords: Candida species, E-test, Hemolysin Biofilm formation, Proteinase, phospholipase activity. Introduction Most of the humans are colonized with Candida species and the leading one being C.albicans. Candidiasis is mainly an opportunistic infections affecting mucous membranes. Invasive Candidiasis can be very serious causing high mortality. Due to various risk factors, some adults develop Candidiasis and women are highly susceptible to genitourinary candidiasis as many of them carry Candida species in their vaginal tract. The new borns can develope oral Candidiasis or vulvo-vaginitis. Rarely Candidemia can progress to meningitis, leading to complications and death. 1,2 The incidences of Candidiasis is on increase due to various risk factors like continuous catheterization, other prolonged invasive procedures, HIV infections, immunosuppressive therapy and other immunocompromised status. The aim of the study is to detect virulence factors and to determine the antifungal susceptibility pattern of isolated candida spp from clinical samples. Materials and Methods A prospective study done in a tertiary care hospital included a total of 80 Candida species isolated from respiratory samples. All suspected yeast colonies were confirmed by Gram staining and further speciated by following test like germ tube test (GTT), microscopic morphological features on Nutrient deficient medium like cornmeal agar (CMA), sugar assimilation and fermentation test. Further speciation of Candida isolates was done by sub‑culturing them on chromogenic medium (HiCHROM Candida; HiMedia, Mumbai, India) and incubated at 37°C for 48 h. Presumptive identification of Candida species was done by noting the color of the colonies as per the manufacturer’s Instructions in HiCHROM medium (C. albicans‑green, Candida tropicalis ‑ blue, C. krusei ‑ pink colonies with matt surface, C. parapsilosis ‑ cream to pale pink). (Fig. 1) Fig. 1: Growth of Candida species on chromogenic medium