Candida rugosa is a rare as yet, though emerging pathogen, attracting increasing
international interest. A collection of 10 clinical strains from the southern Balkan
peninsula was subjected to polyphasic detection, identification and typing techniques,
such as cultures in differential media, microscopy, assimilation tests, immunefluorescence,
in vitro drug susceptibility (microdilution CLSI methodology and E-test) to
multiple agents and both simple and amplification-based molecular techniques, such as
electrophoretic karyotyping, RFLP-PFGE, PCR fingerprinting with mini- and
microsatellite DNA, ribotyping and multiple PCR-RFLPs. Similarities and differences to
other members of the genus were noted to determine appropriate identification, typing
and treatment techniques and regimens for use in epidemiological studies and clinical
applications, as the resulting C. rugosa profiles were in different degrees distinct but
generally not dissimilar to other Candida species. TTC assimilation and Dalmau cultures
allow identification, but typing is better achieved with electrophoretic karyotyping and
specific PCR-RFLP, though the respective results are similar but not matching,
indicating discontinuous intraspecific microevolutionary events.