ABSTRACT
Yeasts of the genus Candida are part of the microbiota of humans and animals, colonizing anatomical sites such as the oral cavity, vaginal mucosa, and intestinal tract. Factors associated with the emergence of infections in humans and other animals can be related to host or pathogenic potential of Candida strains. Sample collection for laboratory diagnosis of Candida spp. depends on the infection site. For fungal infections by the genus Candida, there are therapeutic options with different routes of administration, such as topical, oral, and parenteral use. In the Candida genus, the ability to generate true hyphae from blastoconidia is a peculiar feature of some species, such as C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, and C. africana. Miniaturization technology has allowed the development of semiautomatic or automatic platforms to identify the main yeasts of clinical importance. In addition to allowing qualitative evaluation of the clinical sample, microscopy allows visualization of characteristic structures of a given group of microorganisms, including bacteria or fungi.
