Prevalence of Candida Species in regard to the type of Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy in Erbil City, Iraq
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32792/utq/utjsci/v13i1.1463Keywords:
Oral Candidiasis, CHROM agar Candida sp., Vitek YBC, antifungal sensitivity test.Abstract
Candida species, particularly Candida albicans, cause oral candidiasis, which is an infection of the oral mucosa. A total of 100 oral swab samples were obtained from patients with oral lesions as well as patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy, radiation therapy in in Erbilto study the relationship of Candida species and cancer. On CHROM agar, they were identified depending on the color of the colony, including: Candida albicans (light green), C. dubliniensis (blue to dark green), C. tropicalis (dark green, often with a halo), C. parapsilosis (white or creamy), C. lusitaniae (Creamy to pale pink), C. kefyr (pink to purple), and C. glabrata (Pink to creamy). Method Congo Red Agar (CRA) was used for the detection of biofilm formation, while only a few Candida species had biofilm production. The results of CHROM agar and Vitek 2 compact assays were identical to some extent with the molecular method. The antifungal susceptibility of Candida species was evaluated using the drug agar well diffusion method against five antifungal agents: Fluconazole, Griseofulvin, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, and Nystatin. Most isolates demonstrated resistance to Fluconazole, Griseofulvin, Itraconazole, and Ketoconazole, whereas Nystatin showed sensitivity against most tested Candida species. In this research, each ethanol Golden berry extract (EGB), aquatic Golden berry extracts (AGB) were used. In the agar well diffusion method, most Candida showed low susceptibility values against (EGB) extracts, while all (AGB) extracts were resistant. In conclusion, Candida albicans was the predominant species isolated from the oral cavity of cancer patients.
Received: 15-08-2025
Revised: 03-10-2025
Accepted: 15-10-2025
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