Epidemiology of Candida albicans isolates from heroin addicts analysed by DNA typing

Candida albicans is a ubiquitous commensal organism of humans. Several studies have examined outbreaks of candidiasis in heroin addicts utilizing a variety of methods to assess the epidemiological relatedness of the isolates and suggested the association of certain subtypes with disease in this pati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical mycology (Oxford) 1998-08, Vol.36 (4), p.213-217, Article 213
Main Authors: MCCULLOUGH, M. J, CLEMONS, K. V, DEL PALACIO, A, STEVENS, D. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abscess - microbiology
Biological and medical sciences
Candida albicans
Candida albicans - classification
Candida albicans - genetics
Candida albicans - isolation & purification
Candidiasis - complications
Candidiasis - epidemiology
Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - complications
Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - epidemiology
DNA, Fungal - genetics
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heroin Dependence - complications
Heroin Dependence - microbiology
Humans
Male
Microbiology
Molecular Epidemiology
Mycology
Pathogenicity, host-agent relations, miscellaneous strains, epidemiology
Spain - epidemiology
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Summary:Candida albicans is a ubiquitous commensal organism of humans. Several studies have examined outbreaks of candidiasis in heroin addicts utilizing a variety of methods to assess the epidemiological relatedness of the isolates and suggested the association of certain subtypes with disease in this patient population. The aim of the present study was to assess a separate group of isolates of C. albicans from heroin addicts in Spain using a DNA typing method. Results showed that, of the 34 isolates from heroin addicts, 20 were in subgroup IA, 10 were in subgroup IB and no isolates were of the subtype IA2. In addition, four isolates were in a recently described subgroup IC. Control isolates from the same geographical region (Spain) showed a distribution similar to the Spanish heroin addict isolates (12 subgroup IA, three subgroup IB, two subgroup IC and no isolates of the subtype IA2). In this study isolates from the same locality appeared similar irrespective of the patient population from which they were isolated. These results indicated that there may be differing geographical diversity of C. albicans than has previously been reported and that the newly described genotypic subgroup (IC) of C. albicans may be more widespread than previously shown.
ISSN:1369-3786
1460-2709
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-280X.1998.00149.x