Pathogenic yeast:

Candida albicans
Prepared by- Sudesh Thapa
Roll no. - 46
Candida albicans
 Candidiasis is usually due to the parasitic yeast C. albicans, which inhabits
mucous membranes of most mammals and birds.
 Of the more than 200 other species of Candida that are associated with
many diverse habitats, few are associated with animal disease and C.
albicans is the most important pathogen of animals and humans
 Overuse of antibiotics and prolonged use of steroids and hormonal therapy
could disrupt the normal cutaneous defense mechanisms, leading
candidiasis in animals and humans.
 Cell Morphology and Composition
 On routine laboratory media and mucous membranes, C. albicans typically
grows as oval budding yeast cells (blastoconidia), 5–8 μm in size .
 Under certain conditions of temperature, pH, nutrition, and atmosphere,
yeast cells sprout germ tubes that develop into septate-branching
mycelium.
 “Pseudohyphae” are produced by elongation of the blastoconidia and their
failure to separate.
 In vivo, mycelial (a collection of hyphae) or pseudomycelial growth is
associated with active proliferation and invasiveness.
 The so-called chlamydospore (chlamydoconidium) is a thick-walled sphere of
unknown function, attached by a suspensor cell to (pseudo)mycelium and
essentially confined to in vitro growth .
 The cell wall contains glycoproteins; the polysaccharide portions are glucans
and especially mannans. Lipids and chitin are also present .
 Mannoproteins are found on the cell surface. Cellular products include
peptidolytic enzymes, which may be virulence factors. Two major cross-
reacting serogroups are recognized. These are termed A and B, and are
identifiable with absorbed sera.
 Candida can be visualized under light microscopy when stained with
Romanowsky-type stains (Wright’s and Giemsa, periodic acid Schiff, Gomori
methenamine silver, and other fungal stains, but is usually studied in culture
unstained.
 With Gram stain, Candida cells are gram-variable.
Cellular Products of Medical Interest
 Adhesins - Various cell wall components (chitin, mannoproteins, and lipids)
have been associated with adherence to extracellular matrix proteins.
 Miscellaneous Products- Proteases and neuraminidases have been proposed
to play a role in pathogenesis.
 Cell wall glycoproteins have endotoxin-like activity. Virulence factors such
as phospholipases and proteases have been demonstrated in C. albicans.
These enzymes seem to promote tissue invasion and adherence of yeasts to
host cells, respectively.
Growth Characteristics.
 an obligate aerobe, grows on ordinary media over a wide range of pH and
temperature.
 At 25–30 ◦C, creamy to pasty white colonies consisting predominantly of
yeast cells appear in 24–48 h.
 Incubation temperatures above 35 ◦C, a slightly alkaline pH, and a rich,
carbohydrate-free fluid medium are often recommended.
 grows well on a variety of nonselective fungal and bacterial media including
Sabouraud’s dextrose or blood agar plates.
 Differential ability to ferment or assimilate carbohydrates is the basis of
species identification C. albicans cells are killed by heat above 50 ◦C,
ultraviolet light, chlorine, and quaternary ammonium-type disinfectants.
 withstand freezing and survive well in the inanimate environment. They are
susceptible to polyene antimycotics, and usually to flucytosine and the
azoles.

Reservoir.
 C. albicans is associated with mucocutaneous areas, particularly of the
alimentary and lower genital tract, of mammals and birds. However, C.
albicans can invade any organ of the body and cause disease.
Transmission
 Most Candida diseases arise from an Endogenous source; that is, they are
caused by a commensal strain .
 The bovine udder becomes infected via the teat canal by way of
administered medication, during milking, by cow-to-cow spread, or from the
environment.
 Hematogenous spread has also been reported leading to systemic
infections with this yeast.
 Pathogenesis
 Chitin, mannoprotein, and lipids are possible adhesins in candidiasis; several
extracellular matrix proteins have been shown to be the receptor .
 Candidiasis most frequently affects the mucous surfaces on which the agent
is normally found, possibly the anterior digestive tract from mouth to
stomach;
 typically remains confined to areas of squamous epithelium.
 The genital tract, skin, and claws can be involved as well. Occasional
respiratory, intestinal, and septicemic infections occur.
 On epithelial surfaces, candidiasis forms whitish to yellow or gray plaques,
marking areas of ulceration with varying degree of inflammation.
 Diphtheritic membranes may form in the gut or respiratory tract, and
abscesses may form in the viscera.
 Granulomatous lesions are rare. Inflammatory responses are predominantly
neutrophilic

Fig- whitish plaque on mouth

 Disease Patterns
 Birds- Avian candidiasis affects chickens, turkeys, pigeons, and other birds.
Crop mycosis (thrush) in avian species is caused by C. albicans; mortality is
very high with this disease condition.
 Swine- In the alimentary tract of pigs, candidiasis is seen as ulcerative
lesions that may lead to rupture.
 Equine- In the alimentary tract of foals, candidiasis is seen as ulcerative
lesions that may lead to rupture . Equine genital infections cause infertility,
metritis, and abortions.
 Cattle- Pneumonic, enteric, and generalized candidiasis affects calves on
intensive antibiotic regimens. Candida mastitis in dairy cows is typically mild
and self-limiting , ending in spontaneous recovery within about a week
 Dogs and Cats- Localized infections in dogs and cats are characterized by
non healing, ulcerative lesions of the oral , upper respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and/or genitourinary mucosae.
 clinical signs on presentation will typically reflect involvement of a specific
organ system.
 Other- Lower primates and marine mammals may acquire mucocutaneous
candidiasis.
 Epidemiology
 The common agents of candidiasis are commensal with most warm-blooded
species.
 Disease is linked to immune and hormonal inadequacies, reduced
colonization resistance (a measure of the “health” of the normal flora), or
intensive exposure of weakened hosts or vulnerable tissues.
 These conditions account for susceptibility of infants, diabetics, subjects on
antibiotic and steroid regimes, patients with in dwelling catheters, and
mammary glands of lactating cows.