ABC typing and extracellular enzyme production of Candida albicans isolated from Candida vulvovaginitis

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans is the most common and virulent genus Candida. Detection of virulence factors in this species plays an important role in the better understanding of pathogenesis and antifungal treatment. Molecular typing investigations are important in the epidemiological interpretation of infection. This study aimed to evaluate extracellular enzyme activity and genotyping of C. albicans species isolated from vulvovaginal samples. METHODS: One hundred and three vaginal C. albicans isolates were tested for esterase, phospholipase, proteinase, and hemolysin activities by specific media. Besides, the DNA of C. albicans isolates was extracted and amplified for ABC genotyping. RESULTS: The highest enzyme production of C. albicans isolates was for proteinase (97.1%) and esterase (95.2%), whereas 59.2% of C. albicans isolates were negative for hemolysin secretion. Genotype C (83.5%) was the most frequent genotype followed by genotype B (12.6%) and genotype A (3.9%). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that genotype C was the predominant genotype in all examined vulvovaginal C. albicans isolates. Also, there was a significant difference between enzyme production in each genotype (except for proteinase).