Evaluation of Candida colonization in saliva of healthy individuals and patients referred to the dental clinic of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, A descriptive-analytical study

Document Type : Orginal Article

Authors
shadi Shahbaz 1
Hakimeh Ahadian 2
Abbas Ali Jafari Nodoushan 3
Mahin Ghafoorzadah 4
1 Dentist, Yazd, Iran.
2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, School of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd.
3 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd
4 Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd.
Abstract
Introduction
Candida species are a part of the normal flora of the human mouth and can be isolated from the saliva of healthy individuals. Various factors influence the colonization and invasion of these fungi into the oral mucosa, particularly in individuals with underlying conditions. The aim of this descriptive-analytical study was to compare the rate of colonization of Candida species in the saliva of healthy individuals and those with underlying diseases among patients visiting the dental clinic of Yazd Dental School.
Methods
In this descriptive-analytical study, a total of 250 saliva samples including 151 healthy individuals and 99 individuals with underlying diseases were collected and cultured. The isolated candida species and their colonization rate of Candida albicans and non-albicans isolated candida species from saliva of healthy and the group with underlying diseases were analyzed using SPSS19 software.
Results
A total of 250 saliva samples were analyzed, of which 169 (67.6%) were positive for Candida colonization. The prevalence of positive Candida culture was significantly higher in patients with underlying diseases than in healthy individuals (82.8% vs. 57.6%, χ²=16.22, P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in gender distribution between the two groups (P=0.243). Candida albicans was the predominant species in both groups; however, non-albicans Candida species were significantly more frequent among patients with underlying diseases compared with healthy subjects (37.8% vs. 21.8%, χ²=4.43, P=0.035).
Conclusion
The rate of Candida albicans and non-albicans species isolated from saliva from individuals with underlying diseases was higher than that in healthy groups.
Keywords
Saliva
Candida albicans
Colonization
Underlying Diseases