Germ Tube Formation in Candida Albicans:Evaluation of Human and Animal Sera and Incubation Atmosphere.

Using the method of Elmer et al (11), the germ tube test was performed for 10 previously confirmed germ-tube positive Candida albicans isolates, using sera obtained from human, rabbit, sheep, cow and goat blood. The possibility of germ tube formation within 30 minutes has been further confirmed in this study. Comparism of mean time of germ tube formation in the sera used showed a significant difference for cow and goat sera (P<0.05), with human serum inducing germ tubes at a faster rate. There was no significant differences (P>0.05) for both rabbit and sheep sera. Using Student t-test analysis, there was significant difference (p<0.05) when different atmospheric conditions of incubation were compared, with a faster rate of formation of germ tubes in 10% CO2. The preferential use of rabbit or sheep sera for demonstrating germ tube formation is suggested, to forestall possible transmission of infectious pathogens through human blood.