ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGI SPECIES IN HUMAN URINE SAMPLES (MALE)

ABSTRACT

Fungi species (candida species) are important in medicine because they are the most frequent opportunistic mycosis globally, causing nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTIs), oral candidiasis, and genitourinary candidiasis. Fungal urinary tract infections (funguria) are most commonly caused by Candida species but may also be caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus species, and the endemic mycoses. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of fungi species in urine of male students. Fifty urine samples were collected from male students within the age of 18 to 26 from male students residing in university of benin male hostel using a sterile universal container. Each of the collected sample was diluted serially and inoculated in petri dish containing Sabourad Dextrose Agar (SDA) and incubated at 370C for 72 hours. After subculturing, different methods were used for the identification of fungi species, which includes; staining, sugar fermentation test, germ tube test and microscopic examination. Result shows that, the color of a urine sample is not an indicating factor of the presence of fungi (infection) as despite the variation in urine color, only 3 (6%) of the 50 samples showed signs of fungi growth. However, further evaluation of the fungi isolates with sugar fermentation and germ tube test reveals that only 1 out of the 3 isolates was a candida specie. This was attributed to the narrow opening and dry surrounding of the male urinary tract, making it difficult for fungi growth and candida transmission or contraction. Other fungi isolated in this study include Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococus neoformans only which implies that male gender has little or no involvement in the transmission or contraction of funguria or urinary tract infections (UTI). It is therefore safe to conclude that despite the increased incidence of UTI and funguria, male gender has little contribution to this infection.