title: Molecular study of the Candida parapsilosis complex in Sfax, Tunisia.
abstract: Candida parapsilosis, which was previously considered to be a complex of three genetically distinct groups, has emerged as a significant agent of nosocomial infections. Recently, this complex was separated into three species: C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, C. orthopsilosis, and C. metapsilosis In Tunisia, data pertaining to these fungi are limited. Thus, the purpose of our study was to determine by BanI PCR-RFLP and ITS sequencing, the occurrence of Candida parapsilosis complex among 182 isolates identified as C. parapsilosis by phenotypical methods. C. parapsilosis sensu stricto represented 94.5% of all isolates, while C. metapsilosis and. C. orthopsilosis were identified in 3.3% and 2.2%, respectively. Sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer region confirmed and revealed only one genotype among the C. parapsilosis sensu stricto strains, three genotypes among six C. metapsilosis strains and two genotypes among four C. orthopsilosis strains.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Habib Bourguiba, University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.|Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sourour
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neji
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Habib Bourguiba, University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.|Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Houaida
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trabelsi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hadrich
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Habib Bourguiba, University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.|Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheikhrouhou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Habib Bourguiba, University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.|Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hayet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sellami
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Habib Bourguiba, University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.|Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Fattouma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Makni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Habib Bourguiba, University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia ali.ayadi@rns.tn.|Laboratory of Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayadi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
keywords: Candida parapsilosis; ITS sequencing; PCR RFLP; SADH