Abstract

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that affects humans, animals, and birds. It is one of the most prevalent microbes found in clinical specimens. Candidiasis refers to endogenous fungal overgrowth under conditions of microbiota disruption or other host impairments. The study aimed to detect and isolate C. albicans based on morphological, cultural, and biochemical analysis. The present study examined 36 oral cavity samples from domestic chickens suspected of having candidiasis across various regions of Diyala Governorate in Iraq from September to November 2023. A total of twenty C. albicans were isolated from collected samples. PCR amplification of the 28S rDNA fungal gene, yielding the expected 260bp products, confirmed the identification of the yeasts. Using the Vitek 2 automated system, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for 6 common antifungal drugs were determined to test the antifungal susceptibility of a Candida clinical isolate. No resistance was found to Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, Flucytosine, Voriconazole, Caspofungin, or Micafungin in isolates from the oral cavity. In conclusion, the current study identified twenty C. albicans strains from chicken oral cavities and found them to be susceptible to all major classes of antifungals, indicating a lack of antifungal resistance in these isolates © The Author(s) 2024