How can you differentiate Candida krusei from Candida albicans?

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Multiple Choice

How can you differentiate Candida krusei from Candida albicans?

Germ tube formation in serum is the key difference. Candida albicans readily produces germ tubes when incubated in serum at body temperature, giving a positive germ tube test that helps identify it quickly. Candida krusei does not form germ tubes, so this test stays negative for that species. While both yeasts can show budding (blastoconidia) and Candida albicans may show pseudohyphae, these features are not as definitive as the germ tube result. MacConkey agar is not a reliable tool for distinguishing these yeasts, since its primary use is for bacteria and yeast growth on it isn’t a dependable differentiator between these two species.

Germ tube formation in serum is the key difference. Candida albicans readily produces germ tubes when incubated in serum at body temperature, giving a positive germ tube test that helps identify it quickly. Candida krusei does not form germ tubes, so this test stays negative for that species. While both yeasts can show budding (blastoconidia) and Candida albicans may show pseudohyphae, these features are not as definitive as the germ tube result. MacConkey agar is not a reliable tool for distinguishing these yeasts, since its primary use is for bacteria and yeast growth on it isn’t a dependable differentiator between these two species.

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