Polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of candidiasis.

Abstract

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of a gene encoding the secretory aspartate proteinase of Candida albicans has been employed to diagnose candidiasis. A 273-base-pair C. albicans DNA fragment was amplified from cerebrospinal fluid with Candida meningitis and 20 paraffin-embedded tissues with candidiasis. Immunohistochemical study revealed the positive staining of anti C. albicans antibody in these 20 cases. This PCR method proved to be practically useful for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of candidiasis. © 1994, The Japanese Society for Medical Mycology. All rights reserved.