Chlamydospore formation on staib agar as a species-specific characteristic of Candida dubliniensis

Abstract

Staib agar (Syn. Guizotia abyssinica creatinine agar) was evaluated for differentiation between the highly related yeast species Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. On these agar plates C. dubliniensis formed rough colonies due to mycelial growth and produced abundant chlamydospores whereas C. albicans grew only in smooth colonies and without chlamydospore formation. The rough colonies of C. dubliniensis could be readily distinguished from the smooth C. albicans colonies. These results demonstrate that, under certain growth conditions, mycelial growth with chlamydospore formation is a species- specific marker that can be used for the identification of C. dubliniensis.