A taxonomic and ecological study of candidosis.

A total of 450 yeast isolates were obtained from up to 34 sites on 59 human subjects. The yeasts were characterized using morphological features and assimilation tests. Ten species were identified but, of these,Candida albicans andCandida parapsilosis were the most common and accounted for 84% of the isolates. An examination of the biotypes of the various species indicated a much greater diversity in the yeast microflora than that detected by species identifications alone. Fifty-five biotypes were differentiated and it is suggested that these could be regarded as distinct taxonomic or ecological entities.