Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Candida SPP from Poultry with Symptoms of Candidiasis in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

Aim: The aim of this study is to isolate, identify and characterize Candida spp from cloacal swabs of poultry or birds in Ekiti State University poultry farm, Ago-aduloju poultry farm and Federal Polytechnic of Ado Ekiti poultry farm using molecular method.

Place and Period of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria in August 2016.

Methodology: Fifty samples of poultry droppings were collected from three farms within Ado Ekiti. The samples were inoculated on Sabourand dextrose agar amended with chloramphenicol. All the fungal isolates were isolated using pour plate method. The isolates were identified based on their morphological, cultural characteristics and molecular analysis.

Results: Eight isolates were obtained from a total of fifty samples. Four isolates were identified as Candida albicans strain E10-15 while the fifth isolates was Candida zemplinina strain MCR9. The result showed that three of the eight isolates had small amplicon which were not enough to give the sequence identity of the isolates while the remaining five isolates had large amplicon.

Conclusion: The result of the work demonstrated that poultry birds harbor Candida albicans which is a potential pathogenic yeast. This study signifies the need to discover more environmental niches for yeast especially of Candida species and also recommends that poultry birds should always be treated with proper antibiotics to avoid candidiasis.