title: First isolation of Candida metapsilosis in Kuwait, an emerging global opportunistic pathogen.
abstract: Invasive infections due to uncommon and rare yeast species are increasing worldwide in prevalence and are associated with high mortality rates. Here, we describe the first isolation and characterization of Candida metapsilosis cultured from the blood sample of a 10-year-old Saudi girl, who suffered from a neurodegenerative disorder, in Kuwait. The yeast isolate was identified by sequencing of ITS region and D1/D2 domains of rDNA. The report extends the geographic distribution of C. metapsilosis to the Middle East and highlights the emerging role of uncommon yeast species causing infections in susceptible hosts.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, 1311 Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Departments of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, 1311 Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Departments of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, 1311 Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Sweih
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Unit, Al-Jahra Hospital, Jahra, Kuwait.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.affiliation: Departments of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, 1311 Safat, Kuwait. Electronic address: zkhan@hsc.edu.kw.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: Candida metapsilosis; Fongémie; Fungemia; Koweit; Kuwait