Candida species: important causative agents of onychomycosis

Shirin Farahyar,1,* Masoomeh ekhtiari-miab ,2 Mehraban falahati,3 Elham razmjou,4 Mahtab ashrafi-khozani ,5 Zeinab ghasemi,6

1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences
2. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences
3. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences
4. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences
5. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences
6. Razi hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction

Onychomycosis is a problematic fungal infection of the fingernails and toenails caused by yeasts, dermatophytes and molds. the aim of this study was isolation and molecular identification of candida species of onychomycosis.

Methods

Nail scrapings were collected from 389 patients with nail diseases. nail samples were analyzed using conventional mycological methods and specific molecular approaches. clinical isolates were identified using sequencing of the internal transcribed spacers (its) region and multiplex pcr method as well.

Results

Fourty-nine candida species were identified from nail infections. candida parapsilosis was the most common yeast species (38.78%), followed by candida albicans (26.53%), candida tropicalis (18.37%), candida krusei (6/12%) candida glabrata (6.12%), and candida orthopsilosis (4.08%). onychomycosis due to candida species was common in fingernail and was seen frequently in females (75.55%).

Conclusion

Onychomycosis due to candida species was a common infection, and it was more frequent in females. multiplex pcr and sequencing of its region were reliable methods to identify candida species.candida parapsilosis and candida albicans were the most common causes of onychomycosis.

Keywords

Onychomycosis, candida parapsilosis, candida albicans , multiplex pcr