Conventional and molecular diagnosis of oral candidiasis in Iraqi Patients AL-Ruaby Khairi Jameel1, Kadhum Russul Wassit1 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Waist University, Republic of Iraq Online published on 27 November, 2019. Abstract Oral candidiasis is the most common human fungal infection in babies and elderly. The infection may pass to babies during breastfeeding (milk of mother). In elderly the infection occurs among persons who wear dentures, diabetes mellitus and is a common problem among the immunocompromised This study aimed to isolate and diagnose of the oral candidiasis using conventional and molecular methods. (50) samples have been collected from patients suffering from oral candidiasis who attended AL-Zahra Hospital in AL-Kut city, Iraq, during (August 2017 to February 2018). Samples were CHROMagar culture and API 20 Candida stripe for initial identification of Candida isolates. Germ tube test, chlamydospore formation DNA isolates was extracted for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 60 isolates were obtained from oral samples. C. albicans accounted for (43.3%) of the strains including single and mixed infections. The other identified species were C. krusi (28.3%), C. tropicalis (11.6%). Mixed infection with two species of Candida was recorded in 12% of Oral candidiasis. The most common mixed infection was the combination of C.albicans and C. glabrata. C.albicans was the most common cause of Oral candidiasis. The study shows that CHROM agar was a good tool for initial identification of Candida isolates and PCR method confirmed of Candida isolates. Top Keywords Oral infection, Candida, PCR, fungal infections, babies and elderly. Top |