Molecular diagnosis of Candida species isolates from skin diseases in Karbala Governorate

Unvirsity of Karbala – College of Sciences – Biology Department

Abstract

The present work was designed to identify Candida species associated with skin infections in patients from Karbala Governorate, Iraq, through the application of molecular approaches. Out of one hundred clinical specimens examined, seventy-seven fungal isolates were confirmed as belonging to the genus Candida. For molecular identification, the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region was targeted using three species-specific primers: CALB1 for Candida albicans, CGL1 for C. glabrata, and CTR1 for C. tropicalis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis generated reproducible bands of 273 bp for C. albicans, 423 bp for C. glabrata, and 357 bp for C. tropicalis, confirming the efficiency of the primers in species recognition. Among the isolates, C. albicans was the most frequent species, followed by C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. The predominance of C. albicans emphasizes its epidemiological significance as a leading cause of skin mycoses in the studied population. The findings of this investigation provide useful baseline data on the distribution of Candida species in Iraq and demonstrate the value of PCR-based methods for achieving accurate and rapid diagnosis. Such information may assist in guiding appropriate antifungal therapy and improving patient management in clinical practice.