title: Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto and the closely related species Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis in vulvovaginal candidiasis.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and in vitro susceptibilities of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis isolates from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). We analysed 63 vaginal C. parapsilosis specimens. After the molecular analyses, the isolates were characterised as C. parapsilosis sensu stricto (77.8%), C. orthopsilosis (7.9%) and C. metapsilosis (14.3%). The signs and symptoms of VVC caused by C. parapsilosis sensu lato, including itching, erythema and abnormal discharge, were milder than those caused by C. albicans. None of the C. parapsilosis sensu lato isolates were resistant to fluconazole, miconazole or itraconazole. The resistance rates of C. albicans to fluconazole, itraconazole, miconazole and clotrimazole were 2.3, 1.5, 3.1 and 0.8%, respectively. Both C. parapsilosis sensu lato and C. albicans were susceptible to nystatin. The mycological eradication rate at follow-up days 7-14 and 30-35 were 77.8% (49/63) and 76.2% (48/63), respectively, when treated with various antifungal agents and regimens. We conclude that C. parapsilosis sensu stricto and the closely related species C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis were present in the vaginal samples of VVC patients. The symptoms and signs of VVC caused by C. parapsilosis are milder than those caused by C. albicans. The antifungal susceptibility and therapeutic efficacy in patients colonised by C. parapsilosis sensu lato were similar to those observed in C. albicans-colonised patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, No 1120 Lianhua Road, Futian, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
authors.forename: Yuxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Shangrong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Jianling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D003022:Clotrimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008825:Miconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009761:Nystatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009761:Nystatin; D017964:Itraconazole; D008825:Miconazole; D015725:Fluconazole; D003022:Clotrimazole