Simplified sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed agar for differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans

• Published in: Clinical microbiology and infection Vol. 10; no. 6; pp. 590 - 592
• Main Authors: Khan, Z.U., Ahmad, S., Mokaddas, E., Chandy, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2004; Blackwell Science Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Agar; Biological and medical sciences; Blastomycoses and paracoccidioidomycosis; Candida - classification; Candida - growth & development; Candida - physiology; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - classification; Candida albicans - growth & development; Candida albicans - physiology; Candida dubliniensis; Candida spp; Candidiasis - microbiology; Cryptococcus neoformans; Culture Media; differentiation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Helianthus; Helianthus annuus; Human mycoses; Humans; Infectious diseases; media; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Mycological Typing Techniques; Mycoses; Seeds; Spores, Fungal - physiology; Tropical mycoses; Candida spp; differentiation; media; Cryptococcus neoformans; Candida dubliniensis; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Mycosis; Microbiology; Cryptococcosis; Agar; Compositae; Fungi; Infection; Helianthus annuus; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Ascomycetes; Spermatophyta; Fungi Imperfecti; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 1198-743X; 1469-0691
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2004.00923.x

This study evaluated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed agar (SSA) for differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans on the basis of colony characteristics and chlamydospore production. Simplified SSA without creatinine and KH2PO4 was also used On both media, C. dubliniensis isolates (n = 25) developed rough colonies and formed abundant chlamydospores after incubation for 24–48 h at 28°C, while C. albicans isolates (n = 53) showed smooth colonies with no evidence of chlamydospore formation. Cryptococcus neoformans isolates (n = 10) formed brown colonies on both media. Simplified SSA offers a simple and inexpensive tool for presumptive differentiation of C. dubliniensis from C. albicans in clinical microbiology laboratories.