DESCRIPTIONS OF MEDICAL FUNGI

Descriptions of Medical Fungi 35
Candida Berkhout
Identification: see Kurtzman, Fell and Boekhout. 2011. The Yeasts, a Taxonomic
Study. 5th Edition Elsevier B.V.
Ensure that you start with a fresh growing pure culture; streak for single colony isolation
if necessary.
Chromogenic Agars are used for primary isolation for rapid species identification and
detection of mixed flora, especially from non-sterile sites. Depending on the brand
of chromogenic media presumptive identification of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and P.
kudriavzevii is possible. It is particularly useful for detection of mixed infections.
CHROMagar Candida plate showing chromogenic colour change for C. albicans
(green), C. tropicalis (blue), C. parapsilosis (white) and C. glabrata (mauve).
Germ Tube Test. A rapid screening test for C. albicans and C. dubliniensis. 0.5 mL
of serum, containing 0.5% glucose, is lightly inoculated with the test organism and
incubated at 35 O C for 2-3 hours. On microscopy, the production of germ tubes by the
cells is presumptive for C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.
10 μm
Candida albicans showing production of germ tubes.