Torulopsis candida, a new opportunistic pathogen

Abstract

We described the first documented case of intravenous-catheter-associated fungemia caused by Torulopsis candida (Candida famata). The microorganism was isolated from two blood cultures and one intravenous catheter tip in a bone marrow transplant patient. Both the intravascular cannula and the immunological status of the patient are believed to have played major roles in predisposing the patient to such an infection. Uneventful recovery occurred after the removal of the catheter and amphotericin B therapy.

Differentiation between Debaryomyces hansenii/Candida famata complex and Candida guilliermondii by polymerase chain reaction

“…Authentic strains of synonyms of C. famata isolated from humans also belong to the same species [5, 9]. We are unaware of any reports involving the isolation of C. saitoana and D. nepalensis from clinical samples, although several cases of infection caused by the former taxa, C. famata [17], T. candida [7]and D. hansenii [4], have been reported.…”

“…Infections in immunocompromised patients due to the D. hansenii / C. famata complex (defined as: D. hansenii / C. famata , D. nepalensis and C. saitoana ) have been described [4, 7]. In these cases, the aetiologic agents were not identified according to the current revised criteria.…”

Diversity, Distribution, and Ecology of Fungi in the Seasonal Snow of Antarctica

“…Debaryomyces hansenii is considered a cosmopolitan yeast species that is able to occupy and colonize different ecological niches and ecosystems. In Antarctica, D. hansenni was previously recovered from the rhizosphere of D. antarc tica and soil [48], as well as the soil and thalli of lichens [75], macroalgae [76], freshwater, and marine water [77]. However, D. hansenii (also reported as Candida famata , its anamorph) has been previously found to cause opportunistic human infections [78,79,80].…”

Evolution of antibody response and fungal antigens in the serum of a patient infected with Candida famata

“…Viable C. famata has been found in about 1-2 % of patients suffering from systemic candidiasis (Al-Hedaithy, 2003;Canteros et al, 1994;Krcmery & Barnes, 2002;Peres-Bota et al, 2004;Pfaller et al, 2003;Prinsloo et al, 2003;Ruhnke, 2006;Tortorano et al, 2006;Yamamoto et al, 2002), but analysis of the presence of genomes by PCR yields a different percentage (Khan & Mustafa, 2001;Pryce et al, 2003;van Deventer et al, 1995). Although C. famata is considered to be non-pathogenic (Andrighetto et al, 2000;Gardini et al, 2001), it has been found in tissues as diverse as bone, blood and the CNS, and is associated with vision problems (Krcmery & Kunova, 2000;Prinsloo et al, 2003;Rao et al, 1991;St-Germain & Laverdiere, 1986). Recent evidence suggests that C. famata is the aetiological agent responsible for acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR).…”