Evaluation of in vivo pathogenicity of <i>Candida</i> species isolated from palm wine and sorghum beer in a murine model

Abstract

Since Candida species frequently isolated in hospitals have been found in food processing environments, their presence in palm wine and sorghum beer may be of some clinical significance. This study was carried out to assess the in vivo pathogenicity of Candida strains isolated from these traditional beverages. Thus, ten potentially pathogenic strains were used to inoculate immunocompromised rat models by gavage and observed up to 30 days post-inoculation. On contrary to the control rats, the body weights of the animals inoculated with all the studied strains decreased over time, passing from 105-111 g to 89-98 g. Furthermore, the amount of white blood cells and platelets significantly increased while the red blood cell counts decreased, except those inoculated with Kluyveromyces marxianus strains. The blood smears taken at day-30 showed yeast cells in 60% of the inoculated rats. All strains in the study, except Candida tropicalis S10 and S13, were detected in the kidney with loads ranging from 2.58 to 7.24 log (CFU/g). In the liver, C. tropicalis S17, K. marxianus S87 and K. marxianus S2 were not detected. Thus, palm wine and sorghum beer yeast strains, mainly C. rugosa, C. inconspicua and C. tropicalis strains are capable of inducing candidemia.