title: Comparison of enzymatic activities in different Candida species isolated from women with vulvovaginitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comparing the activities of secreted enzymes in different fungal species can improve our understanding of their pathogenic role. Secretion of various enzymes by Candida species has been considered for determination of their virulence in different Candida infections including vulvovaginitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine and compare the activity of secreted enzymes in Candidia strains isolated from women suspected to vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and referred to some health centers in Khuzestan, Southwestern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The vaginal secretion samples were taken by swap from 250 suspected women with symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis and cultured on CHROMagar Candida medium. Identification of the isolated Candida from culture positive samples performed by the color of colonies and some standard mycological procedures. Activities of phospholipase, hemolysin-α, hemolysin-β, esterase and proteinase were measured in vitro by standard laboratory protocols. The enzymatic activity index (EAI) was calculated for each enzyme in accordance to relevant protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally in eighty cases (32%), a Candida strain was isolated which found to be as 52 (65%) Candida albicans; 12 (15%) C. glabrata; 10 (12.5%) C. dubliniensis; 4 (5%) C. krusei, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis species (each=1; 1.3%). Among C. albicans strains, 89.1% produced all studied enzymes, while 86% of C. glabrata strains failed to produce proteinase and phospholipase. The EAIs in decreasing order were as hemolysin-β=0.2895, hemolysin-α=0.5420, esterase=0.5753, proteinase=0.7413, and phospholipase=0.7446, respectively. Activity of phospholipase, esterase and proteinase secreted by C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were significantly more than those released by C. glabrata and C. krusei, while 86% of C. glabrata strains did not show esterase activity. On the other hand, the activity rates of hemolysin α and β among all studied isolates were almost similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, the prevalence of VVC among investigated women was higher than the previous report from Khuzestan but C. albicans has yet remained the predominant agent of VVC in this area. Given to the EAI, the virulence of C. albicans in VVC can be mediated by phospholipase, esterase and proteinases.
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Electronic address: Fatahinia@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fatahinia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halvaeezadeh
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezaei-Matehkolaei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002175:Candida / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004950:Esterases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D004950:Esterases; D010740:Phospholipases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: Activité enzymatique; Candida albicans; Candida species; Candidose vulvovaginale; Enzymatic activity; Espèce Candida; Vulvovaginal candidiasis