Isolation and molecular typing of yeasts in Mediterranean waters and marine invertebrates from southern France

Purpose. The occurence of human pathogenic yeasts in marin environment is w ell known. In the present study, we investigated the presence of pathogenic yeasts in French mediterranean waters and in various marine animals. Materials and methods. Sea water and fluid from sea urchins, oysters and as cidians were filtered through 3.0 mu m membranes and cultured in Sabouraud medium. Yeasts were identified by API Sytem. Candida parapsilosis isolates were typed by RAPD and RFLP technics. Results. C. parapsilosis. Rhodotorula sp. and Trichosporon cutaneum were th e yeasts most frequently isolated. Sea urchins appeared to be the animals m ost suitable to recover yeasts from marine environment. C. parapsilosis mar ine isolate genotype was identical to the one of pathogenic strains which a re most frequently isolated from humans.