The diversity and antifungal susceptibility of the yeasts isolated from coconut water and reconstituted fruit juices in Brazil

The aims of this study were to characterise the yeasts present in the reconstituted fruit juices and coconut water extracted with “coconut machines”, both collected from commercial outlets in a Brazilian city, and to investigate the antifungal resistance of isolates from these beverages that were able to grow at 37 °C. The yeast population counts in the coconut water samples ranged from 1.7 to > 6.5 log cfu/ml, and in the reconstituted fruit juices, the counts ranged from 1.5 to > 5.5 log cfu/ml. Aureobasidium pullulans, Candida boidinii, Candidaintermedia, Candidaoleophila, Candidaparapsilosis, Candidasantamariae, Candidatropicalis, Clavispora lusitaniae, Kloeckera apis, Lachancea fermentati, Pichia fermentans and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa were the most frequent species isolated from these beverages. At least 18 yeast species isolated from these beverages have been reported as opportunistic pathogens. Eight yeast isolates were resistant to fluconazole, seven were resistant to itraconazole, and 26 to amphotericin B. Some yeast species were resistant to more than one of the antifungal drugs tested. Two isolates of C. tropicalis from the reconstituted fruit juices exhibited resistance to all three drugs. The presence of yeast strains that are resistant to commonly used antifungal drugs suggests a potential risk, at least to immunocompromised individuals who consume these beverages.

► We identified 69 yeast species from samples of reconstituted fruit juices and coconut water.
► Yeast contamination is likely caused by inappropriate storage and handling conditions.
► 115 yeast isolates exhibited resistance or a dose-dependent susceptibility to at least one of the antifungal drugs tested.