94 Bulletin UASVM, Veterinary Medicine, 70(1)/2013 Print ISSN 1843-5270; Electronic ISSN 1843-5378 The sensitivity of some Candida Spp strains isolated from animals to natural extracts NADǍŞ George Cosmin 1* , Nicodim FIŢ, Flore CHIRILǍ, Cosmina BOUARI, Sorin RĂPUNTEAN 1 University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Corresponding author: gnadas@usamvcluj.ro Abstract. The researches were made during February – May 2013 within the Microbiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. A total number of 18 Candida spp. strains isolated from different animal species and humans, and 2 reference strains were tested regarding their sensitivity to polyphenols and natural extracts using the diffusimethric technique. Candida spp. strains were isolated from parrot faeces, dog otitis, mastitis cow milk and human tonsillitis. Two Candida albicans control strains were also used within the study (ATCC ® 90028 TM and ATCC ® 10231 TM ). The polyphenols and natural extracts taken into study were represented by grape seed extracts, α- pinen, β-pinen, carvacrol, tea tree, fir and nystatin as standard antimycotic. Most of the strains were resistant to α- pinen, β-pinen and grape seed extract, good sensitivity was registered for tea tree, fir and nystatin, but the best overall results with an average of 38.5 mm inhibition area was observed for carvacrol. Key words: Candida spp., polyphenols, natural extracts, sensitivity. INTRODUCTION Candida spp. yeast is normally present in mucous membranes of humans and animals. Their pathogenicity mostly develop in case of immunosupressed and antibiotic treated individuals. The last decades registered an increased in number of infected subjects, one can also consider candida involvement in cancer development. Constant interest of different research team in the identification of possible alternative treatments in candidiasis was revealed by publishing high quality articles in the field. A recent study of a research team in comparing the in vivo and in vitro efficiency of the essential oil extracted from dill seeds (Anethum graveolens L) on 10 Candida spp. strain using in vitro MIC method followed by in vivo administration of the strain in female mice previously immunosupressed. The sensitivity to dill seeds was compared to a standard antimycotic – fluconazole in this case (Hong Z. et al., 2011). A different article published in 2009 is testing the efficiency of polyphenols (catechins and teaflavins) extracted from black tea on Candida spp. strains. The method chosen for this study was also MIC, preparing four concentrations of each extract. The results demonstrated the sensitivity of candida to polyphenols used as antifungal drugs (Sitheeque MA. et al., 2009). Another study tested the sensitivity of Candida spp. to catechins extracted from green tea leaves at 24 and 48h using two methods – MIC and MFC (minimum fungal concentration). Candida albicans strains resistant to fluconazole were sensitive to catechines extracted from green tea leaves (Yedegari M. et al., 2009). Lately antimycotics were used frequently and for long periods of time without prior susceptibility testing. This approach has led to the emergence of resistant strains, hence the need for alternative therapies. This study is aiming to test in vitro susceptibility of Candida spp. strains isolated from humans and animals to the inhibitory action of polyphenols (grape seed extracts, α-pinen, β-pinen, carvacrol, tea tree, fir and nystatin).