Prevalence and Molecular Typing of Candida Species Causing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Among Pregnant Women in Enugu State

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent fungal infection affecting a significant proportion of pregnant women globally, with Candida albicans traditionally identified as the dominant causative agent. However, recent trends indicate a shift toward non-albicans Candida species in many sub-Saharan African settings. This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and molecular speciation of Candida isolates from pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at a tertiary hospital in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria. High vaginal swabs were obtained from 180 consenting pregnant women. Fungal cultures were grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and CHROMagar Candida. Molecular identification was performed by PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. A candidiasis prevalence of 38.3% was recorded among study participants. While C. albicans remained dominant (54%), non-albicans species including C. glabrata (22%), C. tropicalis (14%), and C. krusei (10%) were also identified. Fluconazole resistance was observed in 36% of non-albicans isolates, raising concerns about empirical antifungal therapy. These findings provide molecular evidence for species diversity in VVC in Southeast Nigeria. Keywords: Candida, vulvovaginal candidiasis, ITS region, pregnancy, Enugu State.