The investigation of Candidial onychomycosis and determination of Candida species Isolated from patients by using conventional and molecular methods

Onychomycosis consider as the most common nail diseases and yeasts are the important causative agents in onychomycosis. The aim of current study is the investigation of candidial onychomycosis and investigation of isolated species using direct examination.culturing and PCR-RFLP techniques.

In this cross- sectional study nail sampling has been examined in 280 patients with dystrophic nail problem who were the applicant of Medical mycology laboratory in Tehran. Direct examination test, Culturing on SDA, candida Chrome agar, Corn meal agar and germ tube test were used for identification of isolated yeasts from onychomycosis and finally PCR-RFLP techniques using MSP1 enzyme were performed for definitive diagnosis of Candida species which had not been identified by conventional methods.

Out of 280 patients with onychomycosis 54 cases (candida albicanse), 16 cases (candida parapsilosis), 7 cases (candida tropicalis), 6 cases (candida glabrata), 3 cases (candida krusei) and 1 case (candida guilliermondii) have been identified respectively.In order to identification of unknown species and also confirmation of the results of conventional methods PCR-RFLP genotyping methods have been performed on 20 samples. The results obtained from Culturing and direct examination and the identification of unknown species have been confirmed using PCR-RFLP methods.

As conventional diagnostic laboratory methods such as culturing, are time-consuming, it is better to use fast and safe genotyping techniques (PCR-RFLP) due to the possibility of better identification in species level. Therefore using modern molecular methods for diagnosis and identification in species level would be useful.