title: First isolations in India of Candida nivariensis, a globally emerging opportunistic pathogen.
abstract: We randomly screened 363 yeast isolates during 2008 for their ability to form white colonies on CHROM agar Candida medium. Two of these isolates (0.5%) were identified as Candida nivariensis based on detailed phenotypic characterization and DNA sequencing. One was recovered from the sputum of an HIV-positive patient with a pneumonic lesion and the second from the blood of a diabetic with oropharyngeal lesions. Direct DNA sequencing of the D1/D2 region of 28S rRNA gene and/or the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA confirmed that both of the isolates were C. nivariensis. The carbohydrate assimilation profiles with the ID 32 C and VITEK 2 yeast identification systems revealed only glucose assimilation. In vitro antifungal susceptibility profiles by broth microdilution and Etest methods revealed susceptibility of both isolates to fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine, with low MICs for posaconazole and caspofungin. These results document the occurrence of Candida nivariensis for the first time in India and focus on its potential as an opportunistic human pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chowdhary
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Randhawa
authors.forename: Z U
authors.initials: ZU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juneja
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sundar
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S