Genotyping and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Candida albicans Isolated from HIV-infected Women in Niamsey, Niger

Abstract

Aims: C. albicans infection is one of the most frequent mycoses among HIV-positive women, posing a serious health risk and significant economic burden for its management. The aim of this study was to genotype and assess the fluconazole susceptibility of C. albicans in women infected with HIV/AIDS in Niamey, Niger Republic. Study Design: Cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2023 to April 2024 at the Department of Microbiology, Nassarawa State University, Keffi, and three tertiary hospitals of HIV management: Poudriere Regional Hospital, Issaka Gazoby Maternity and Amirou Boubacar Diallo National Hospital in Niamey, Niger. Methodology: Three hundred and eighteen (318) high vaginal swab (HVS) and oral swab samples were collected from women who presented with signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal and/or oral candidiasis, aged between 12 and 58 years, and provided informed consent to be part of the study. The isolates were identified using the germ tube test (GTT) and chromogenic Candida-selective medium (ChromaticTM Candida). Confirmatory identification and fluconazole susceptibility testing were done using VITEK 2. The fungal isolates were genotyped using Candida species-specific genes for C. albicans group A, B, and C based on their 25S rDNA with multiplex PCR amplification. Results: Twenty C. albicans strains were isolated from oral and vaginal swabs of 318 HIV-positive women. Tests for genotypes among C. albicans strains revealed that genotype A was the most prevalent (55%), followed by genotypes B (25%) and C (20%). Fluconazole resistance was detected in only two isolates of genotype A among the C. albicans strains.