Isolation and Identification of Candida dubliniensis in Patient with Cervical-Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Erbil City

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is a fungal infection caused by Candida spp. of the genital mucosa that is still a health concern for women. This is a first-of-its-kind investigation on the isolation of Candida dubliniensis , from cervical-vulvovaginal patients in Erbil hospitals. The study was carried out for isolation and identification which performed by using phenotypic and molecular approaches. A total of one hundred samples of vaginal swabs (Copan transport swabs dry (in a cover)), were taken from patients with cervical vulvovaginal candidiasis in order to test for the presence of Candida species. According to macroscopic and microscopic examination, Candida spp. was discovered in 60 of the 100 samples (60%). On CHROM agar medium, eleven non-duplicated C. dubliniensis were identified depending on color of colony (dark green colonies-blue colony). Then the species were confirmed using API 20C assay. Finally, a multiplex PCR technique was performed depending on two types of primers, which are universal and specific for identifying C. dubliniensis and the results of the CHROM agar and API 20C assays were identical with molecular method.