Abstract
Background:
Beta-glucan (β-glucan) is a polysaccharide containing β-glycosidic bonds that is an important structure part of different yeast cells.
Aim:
The purpose of the study is to characterize β-glucan that obtained from Candida albicans (C. albicans) isolated from caprine mastitis.
Methods:
The β-glucan was extracted by using utilizing an Alkaline-acidic extraction technique. The dry weight of extracted β-glucan was 7.47/150 gm with 4.98%.
Results:
The findings demonstrated that the extracted β-glucan had similarity in the primary peak 5.78 of liquid samples using the method of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) when compared to the standard form of β-glucan. However, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies revealed which the standard of β-glucan was distinct in morphology but similar to β-glucan isolated from C. albicans in terms of particle sizes in the range of 1.60-2.65 m and the lack of cell wall traces. The findings of an investigation using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (EDS/EDX) of extracted and standard β-glucan, showed the principal elements discovered were carbon (C), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N). Aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), nickel (Ni), and gold (Au) were also present, but in less amounts.
Conclusion:
The extracted β-glucan displayed a high degree of similarity and purity to the standard β-glucan, according to the findings of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) research.

Key words: Subclinical mastitis, Mycotic mastitis, HPLC, Electron Microscopy, Iraq