Background: Due to the inherent differences in their antifungal susceptibility, quick and accurate identification of clinical fungal pathogens is essential for accurate diagnosis and timely therapeutic interventions. Aim This study was carried out to detect the internal transcribed sequencing profile and ERG2 gene in Candida albicans in clinical isolates. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted using the boiling method, and the ERG2 gene sequence was detected using PCR for molecular characterisation of species with related behavioral characteristics.
Methods: 221 samples in total were assessed. Gram staining, the germ tube test, and biochemical analysis were all used to identify each strain.
Results: The statistical tool used was descriptive statistics (Frequencies, Percentages). 13 (5.7%) of the 129 Candida species were found in male subjects, while 116 (52.5%) were found in female subjects. 74 (33.5%), 30 (13.6%), and 13 (5.7%) of the findings came from high vaginal swabs, endocervical swabs, and throat swabs, respectively. In contrast, only two (0.9%) of the findings came from wound swabs, pleural fluid, eye swabs, urethral swabs, catheter tips, or blood cultures, and none from ear swabs. However, from subjects in the age ranges 0-10 years, 11-20 years, 21-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, and 51-60 years, respectively, 14 (6.3%), 6 (2.7%), 68/ (30.8%), 33 (14.9%), 6 (2.7%), and 2 (0.9%) were isolated. The antifungal susceptibility pattern showed that the age groups 0–10 years, 11–20 years, 21–30 years, 41–50 years, and 51–60 years had the highest resistance prevalence to the antifungal drugs Nystatin, Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Clotrimazole, and Ketoconazole, with resistance prevalences of 14 (10.9%), 6 (4.7%), 58 (45.0%), 27 (20.9%), 5 (3.9%), and 2 (1.6 The largest prevalence of resistance to the antifungal medications Nystatin and Itraconazole, however, was seen in females, where it was 93 (72.1%), and in men, where it was 11 (8.5%). Of the 58 isolates used for molecular analysis, only females between the ages of 20 and 40 had the ERG2 gene found, and it was primarily found in high vaginal swabs and endocervical swabs.
Conclusion: Our study thus supports the use of molecular techniques, particularly internal transcribed spacer (ITS), as a key marker for identifying fungi, even though these techniques are not commonly used in our climate.
ERG2 gene, candida albicans, teaching hospital, internal transcribed, sequencing profile
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