title: Candida parapsilosis in domestic laundry machines.
abstract: Candida parapsilosis, although a human commensal, acts as an opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial infections, with a rising incidence worldwide. Its ecological characteristics are poorly understood. Human-made environments within dwellings, such as dishwashers and water distribution systems, represent major sources of fungi such as C. parapsilosis. Here, we investigated the presence of members of the C. parapsilosis complex in 99 washing machines in various dwellings in the city of Mersin, Turkey. We sampled three sites in each washing machine: (i) the washing powder drawers, (ii) fabric softener drawers, and (iii) rubber seals around the washing machine doors. Additionally, we recorded the type of cleanser used by each customer. Of note, 25.3% of sampled washing machines harbored C. parapsilosis strains, later identified as the members of the C. parapsilosis sensu stricto via internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Out of the 29 isolates obtained, biofilm-forming ability and proteinase and esterase activities were recorded in 14, 11, and 4 of the isolates, respectively. Our results suggest that the washing machines investigated abundantly harbored C. parapsilosis sensu stricto; however, no single preferred isolation site or association with cleanser type was observed (P > .05). Furthermore, C. parapsilosis isolates grew at temperatures ranging from 10°C to 37°C, at pH values ranging from 4 to 10, and were found to tolerate 5-10% NaCl. Domestic laundry appliances as a potential source of C. parapsilosis infections are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mersin, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dögen
authors.affiliation: Division of Mycology, Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hafize
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sav
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Education, Research, and Application Center, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonca
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Education, Research, and Application Center, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.|Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Macit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilkit
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novak Babic
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.|Centre of Excellence of Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gunde-Cimerman
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.|Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: G Sybren
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: de Hoog
mesh_terms: D000074429:Candida parapsilosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D003902:Detergents; D017753:Ecosystem; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D003902:Detergents
keywords: Biofilms; ecology; halophiles; opportunistic infections; proteinase