A comparative study of carrier state of Candida and its speciation in oral flora – Among healthy individuals, persons with DM and HIV sero positive individuals

• Main Authors: M. Bharathi, Anaparthy Usha Rani, Cautha Sandhya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Our Dermatology Online 2012-04-01
• Series: Nasza Dermatologia Online
• Subjects: Candida albicans; colonization; opportunistic infections; Type 2 DM; HIV infection
• Online Access: http://www.odermatol.com/wp-content/uploads/file/2012%202/ourd_20122_20.pdf

The aim was to determine colonization rate of candida in oral cavity of healthy individuals, diabetics and HIV seropositive individuals.Material and methods: Samples were collected from oral cavity of 50 HIV sero positive individuals, 50 diabetics and 50 healthy individuals by swabbing palatal mucosa, dorsum of tongue and buccal mucosa with a sterile swab. Samples were processed by inoculating on Hi Chrome Agar and speciation was done by growth on Hi Chrome agar, germ tube test, chlamydospore formation on CMA, pellicle formation in SDA broth and growth at 45ºc.Results: 27 HIV sero positive individuals (54%) carried candida in their oral cavities (single strain in 44% and combination of strains in 10%). Whereas it was 44% in diabetics (single species in 38% and a combination of species in 6%) and 24% in healthy individuals (only single species). Candida albicans accounts for 41.66% in healthy individuals, 68% in diabetics and 42.42% in HIV seropositive persons. other species isolated were Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata in all 3 groups in addition to Candida dubliniensis in healthy and HIV seropositive individuals and C.krusei in HIV seropositive persons only. P value- less than 0.05 between healthy persons & diabetics and between healthy persons & HIV seropositives (significant).Conclusion: candidal carriage was higher in diabetics and HIV seropositive individuals. Candida albicans was the commonest species in all three groups. Candida krusei was seen only in HIV positive persons.