Genotypic patterns of secreted aspartyl proteinase gene in various Candida species isolated from antenatal women with vulvovaginal candidiasis

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a commonly found disease in antenatal women caused by Candida species. The usual presentations are persistent curdy white vaginal discharge with itching, bad odour, irritation, pain in the lower abdomen and local induration of vulva. Therefore this infection is an unpleasant and cause of intolerance for women. Several virulence factors are present in Candida species such as Secreted aspartyl proteinase (Sap), phospholipase, lipase, haemolysin, germ tube formation and production of biofilm. There are 10 SAP genes (SAP1 to SAP10) present in all Candida species which help for virulence. The objective of this research was to analyse the genotypic patterns of SAP genes in Candida species. The present research was done in SRM MCH & RC, Chennai, India, from March 2017 to December 2018. DNA was isolated and the SAP gene was detected by a polymerase chain reaction. Totally 35 Candida species were isolated from 92 suspected case of VVC. Out of 35 Candida species, 16/35 (45.7%) were from symptomatic women and 19/35 (54.3%) were from asymptomatic women. Out of 35 Candida species, C. albicans were 15(42.8%) and Non-albicans Candida (NAC) were 20(57.2%). Totally 28 genotypic patterns were found and 6 (21.4%) Candida isolates presented genotypic patterns of all the SAP genes. There is a predominance of the SAP1 gene in Candida isolates from asymptomatic women whereas SAP1 and SAP9 genes in Candida isolates from symptomatic women. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference for the SAP7 and SAP8 gene frequency among the Candida isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic women.