Studies on Candida albicans causing vaginal and urinary tract inflammation; prevalence, antifungal resistance and natural products susceptibility

Abstract

Antifungal resistant Candida albicans considered one of the most pathogenic microorganisms causing vaginal and urinary tract inflammation and we tried to overcome this problem by estimating the efficiency of some natural products against Candida albicans. This study focused on isolation, identification, studying the prevalence and the susceptibility of Candida to some natural products. Morphological and biochemical identification of Candida isolates was done after isolation on specific media. Then the antifungal resistance of isolates toward antifungal substances and sensitivity to apple cider vinegar, garlic, lavender, coconut, and tea tree oils were estimated. Out of fifty urine samples and vaginal swabs, only twelve Candida isolates were obtained. The biochemical identification revealed that all isolates were Candida spp. And the ITS gene estimated in the most antifungal resistant isolates. After that the susceptibility of six isolates to apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, coconut oil, garlic oil and lavender oil revealed the sensitivity of Candida to tested products. Finally, the ITS2 gene sequencing results confirmed the identification of Candida albicans MS24 and Candida albicans MS44. Our study concluded that Candida albicans considered one of the most causing vaginal and urinary tract inflammation. Also, natural products especially tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar have excellent antifungal activity against Candida albicans MS24 and Candida albicans MS44.