Enzymatic variability of Candida krusei isolates in a course of fungal infection in a liver transplant recipient.

Transplant recipients are at high risk of fungal infections. The main site of fungal infections in patients undergoing liver transplantation is the abdominal cavity. One factor determining the pathogenicity of fungi is their ability to secrete hydrolytic enzymes. The aim of this study was to assess the enzymatic activity of Candida krusei, which caused an infection in a liver transplant recipient. The clinical specimens included swabs of throat, nose, and two drains, as well as bile, stool, and abdominal cavity aspirate. The yeast-like fungi isolated were identified by an ID 32 C test (bioMérieux) and their enzymatic activity assayed with the use of an API-ZYM test. Two biotypes of C. krusei were identified, depending on the source of the clinical specimen. The C. krusei isolates cultured from a throat swab, a nasal swab, and one of the drains secreted esterase lipase C8 (enzyme IV) and valine arylamidase (enzyme VII), in contrast to those isolated from the bile, abdominal cavity fluid, another drain, and stool. Characterization of two biotypes of C. krusei isolates cultured from different clinical samples from several infection sites indicated an ability of C. krusei to adapt to variable environmental conditions.