Damage of Candida albicans blastoconidia exposed to biocides

The damage of Candida albicans blastoconidia exposed to the lowest concentration of chemical disinfectant and antiseptic passing the EN 1275:2005 at 5 min contact time was examined under transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The blastoconidia of C. albicans 82 exposed to the chemical products showed the following damage: Incidin Liquid Spray (disinfectant) and Spitaderm (antiseptic) - cytoplasm congealing; Incidin Plus and Lysoformine 3000 (disinfectants) - cell wall and cell membrane damage, and leakage of the cytoplasm; Medicarine (disinfectant) - cytoplasm denaturation and rough cytoplasm. The damage of blastoconidia of the strains C. albicans 24 and C. albicans 28, exhibiting different susceptibility to Lysoformine 3000 was compared under scanning electron microscopy. The blastoconidia of the strain C. albicans 28 did not exhibit essential damage at a concentration 16 times lower (0.02%) than the lowest concentration of Lysoformine 3000 (Lc-LYS) for this strain (0.32%). At this concentration (0.02%, corresponding to Lc-LYS for C. albicans 24) the more sensitive isolate 24 showed substantial damage. The conducted study exhibited the effects of the tested products against the viability and structural integrity of the cells. Blastoconidial buds at the early stage of development seem to be very susceptible to the action of the tested products. The budding areas are located mainly at the blastoconidial poles.