title: Simplified sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed agar for differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans.
abstract: This study evaluated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed agar (SSA) for differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans on the basis of colony characteristics and chlamydospore production. Simplified SSA without creatinine and KH(2)PO(4) was also used. On both media, C. dubliniensis isolates (n = 25) developed rough colonies and formed abundant chlamydospores after incubation for 24-48 h at 28 degrees C, while C. albicans isolates (n = 53) showed smooth colonies with no evidence of chlamydospore formation. Cryptococcus neoformans isolates (n = 10) formed brown colonies on both media. Simplified SSA offers a simple and inexpensive tool for presumptive differentiation of C. dubliniensis from C. albicans in clinical microbiology laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. ziauddin@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
authors.forename: Z U
authors.initials: ZU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mokaddas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandy
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D006368:Helianthus; D006801:Humans; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D012639:Seeds; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000362:Agar