Identification of Candida Species Isolated from Oral Candidiasis in Cancer Patients using PCR-RFLP in Sulaimani, Iraq

Mahmood, Diman M.; Osman, Yad N.; Nidhamaddin, Sara J.; Ahmadissa, Solhan M.; Rahim, Alaa A.; Salih, Mariwan A.; Hamasoor, Taib A.

doi:10.21608/eajbse.2022.269215

Identification of Candida Species Isolated from Oral Candidiasis in Cancer Patients using PCR-RFLP in Sulaimani, Iraq

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Medical Laboratory Department, College of Health and Medical Technology, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaimani, Iraq.

² Medical Oncologist, Department of Medical Oncology, Hiwa Cancer Hospital, Sulaimani, Iraq.

³ Medical Laboratory Analysis, Cihan University-Sulaimanya, Slemani, Iraq.

⁴ Medical Laboratory Department, College of Health and Medical Technology, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaimani, Iraq - Medical Laboratory Analysis, Cihan University-Sulaimanya, Slemani, Iraq.

⁵ Medical Laboratory Department, College of Health and Medical Technology, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaimani, Iraq. - Medical Laboratory Analysis, Cihan University-Sulaimanya, Slemani, Iraq.

10.21608/eajbse.2022.269215

Abstract

Candida species causes oral candidiasis in immunosuppressed individuals such as cancer patients. This study aimed to determine the rate of candida infections in cancer patients (n= 150) and to identify different species of candida using Polymerase Chain Reaction-restriction fragment polymerase length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and to find the effect of candidiasis on the PH of the saliva in cancer patients (n=50) and controls (n=50) (Healthy individuals). The rate of candidiasis was different in patients with different types of cancer. A higher percentage of oral Candidiasis was observed in carcinoma (54 %), followed by leukemia patients (17.3 %), sarcoma type (15.3%), and lymphoma (13.33%). The highest prevalence of candidiasis was found in the old age group, 40-60years Candida albicans was the most common recorded species,70% in comparison to non- albicans species, followed by other species including: Candida glabrata (12%), Candida kefyr (6.7%), Candida tropicalis (5.3%), Candida krusei (3.3%), and Candida dubliniensis (2.7 %). The pH of saliva was more acidic in cancer patients who have candidiasis in comparison to control individuals (P-value 0.001). In conclusion, this study found that the rate of candidiasis is high among cancer patients and Candida albican is the most common species recorded in cancer patients.

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