Isolation and Identification of Candida sp. from Cancer Patients in Al-Najaf Governorate

Abstract

Abstract Background: The study of microbes and cancer is considered one of the challenges in sustainable development. Candida is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus that is inclined to infect the host with faulty immune function involving cancer patients. A growing amount of research has shown that Candida infection raises the host’s vulnerability to cancer, such as colorectal, gastric, and oral cancer. Objectives: This investigation demonstrates the isolation and identification of Candida spp. from cancer patients of the Middle Euphrates Cancer Center in Al-Najaf Governorate. Materials and Methods: Fifty-one blood samples were collected for the preparation of serum. The serum is cultured on SDA media, and the culture is examined for microbial growth, such as culture on SDA media, Chrom agar, microscopic examination, and then by VITEK 2 technique. Results: The current investigation showed that the infection percentage with opportunistic microorganisms was demonstrated as follows: 53% was Candida while 47% was bacteria and other types of yeast. The results demonstrate five different species of Candida sp., Candida species were (46%) C. parapsilosis (13.33%) for each of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. dubliniensis, and C. guillermondii. Conclusion: We concluded from our current study that some pathogenic microbes can be isolated from the sera of cancer patients, as some types of Candida were isolated, which include C. parapsilosis, C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C.dubliniensis, and C. guillermondii.