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Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common infection among women worldwide, being Candida albicans the most commonly isolated species. Therefore, controlling this opportunistic yeast is one of the key factors for reducing nosocomial infection., Aims: We investigated several virulence properties of 28 vaginal strains of Candida isolated from Tunisian women suffering from vulvovaginitis. We also analyzed the virulence properties of a clinical Candida krusei strain and five Candida reference strains., Methods: Candida strains were subjected to microscopic analysis and culture in Candida ID2 chromogenic medium. The adhesive properties of these strains were estimated by the microtiter plate - the safranin-staining - and the Congo red agar (CRA) methods, for determining yeast ability to form biofilms on biomaterials used in urinary catheter manufacturing. Their potency to produce hydrolytic enzymes was also studied., Results: Our results showed that nine out of the total studied strains produced phospholipase. In addition, very high protease activity was detected in 23 Candida strains. All Candida strains were beta-hemolytic and adhered to polystyrene microtiter plates in varying degrees. Two vaginal C. albicans strains were strongly adhesive to polystyrene and glass slides. Also, our results showed that vaginal Candida strains were more adhesive to the three tested materials than the reference strains., Conclusions: This study shows the presence of a range of virulence and adhesion factors in clinical isolates of vaginal Candida. Consequently, control and treatment of vaginal candidiasis as a means to prevent biofilm formation on urinary catheters is of crucial importance., (Copyright © 2013 Revista Iberoamericana de Micología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

All three patients complained of cough, fever and dyspnea. Their chest X-ray films revealed interstitial changes such as Kerley B lines. The results of lymphocyte stimulation tests were all negative for Minocycline (MINO), whereas the provocation tests were all positive in three cases. The onsets of symptoms appeared 7, 12 and 9 hours after administration of MINO respectively, which suggested type III allergy in terms of the latency period. In cases No. 1 and No. 3, lung tissue specimens obtained by transbronchial biopsy showed findings of mild acute eosinophilic pneumonia. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of case No. 3 showed eosinophilia. On diagnosing MINO-induced pneumonitis, the lymphocyte stimulation test is not always beneficial, whereas the provocation test is supposed to be a safe and sure method.