Candida africana: Is It a Fungal Pathogen?

Twelve years ago, Candida africana was proposed as new species within the Candida albicans species complex, and since then has raised much controversy regarding whether or not it should be considered a separate species from C. albicans. Although its taxonomic status is still a matter of debate, this yeast differs from C. albicans by a number of phenotypic, genotypic, pathogenic and clinical characteristics that make this fungus particularly interesting to study. Current epidemiological and clinical data suggest that C. africana has a worldwide distribution, is particularly adapted to colonize/infect human vaginal mucosa, and may also be responsible for most serious diseases involving other human organs. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge about C. africana, highlighting its role in human infections, thus providing a complete clinical picture in order to understand if this yeast can be considered an important pathogen.