Simplified sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed agar for differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans

Abstract

This study evaluated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed agar (SSA) for differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans on the basis of colony characteristics and chlamydospore production. Simplified SSA without creatinine and KH2PO4 was also used On both media, C. dubliniensis isolates (n = 25) developed rough colonies and formed abundant chlamydospores after incubation for 24-48 h at 28°C, while C. albicans isolates (n = 53) showed smooth colonies with no evidence of chlamydospore formation. Cryptococcus neoformans isolates (n = 10) formed brown colonies on both media. Simplified SSA offers a simple and inexpensive tool for presumptive differentiation of C. dubliniensis from C. albicans in clinical microbiology laboratories. © 2004 Copyright by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.