Abstract
During the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of fungal infections caused by Candida species. Oral candidiasis is a common opportunistic infection of the oral cavity caused by yeast fungi of the genus Candida on the mucous membranes of the mouth. To isolate and determine the incidence rate of oral Candida species in periodentitis and gingivitis patients referred to school of dentistry, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, this study was carried out in 172 patients with periodentitis and gingivitis aged 11 to 72 years. Swabs samples were taken from salivary secretion, the palate mucosa and dentine carious lesions and were cultured directly on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium. Isolated yeasts were identified by CHROMagarCandida, germ tube test and Clamidoconidia formation (corn meal agar plus Tween 80 medium). Results showed the prevalence of Candida albicans (n = 120, 75%),Candida glabrata (n = 20, 12.5%), Cadida tropicalis (n = 10, 6.5%), Candida dubliniensis (n = 6, 4.0%) and Cadida krusei (n = 3, 2.0%). In this investigation, germ tube-test and chlamydospore formation were positive in the isolates that produced dark-green colonies and were considered as C. dubliniensis and light-green colonies were identified as C. albicans. CHROMagar Candida is a satisfactory isolation medium for oral and dental specimens. It is a satisfactory method for correct and rapid identification of common yeast species and easy recognition of mixed cultures in clinical samples. Key words: Periodentitis, gingivitis, oral candidiasis, CHROMagar
Highlights
The oral cavity is inhabited by more than 700 microbial species and many intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect the composition, metabolic activity and pathogenicity of the highly diversified oral microflora (Samaranayake et al, 2002; Aas et al, 2005)
Germ tube-test and chlamydospore formation were positive in the isolates that produced dark-green colonies and were considered as C. dubliniensis and light-green colonies were identified as C. albicans
One hundred and sixty samples obtained from the oral cavities of 172 patients with periodentitis and gingivitis was positive for oral candidal infection (93.0%)
Summary
The oral cavity is inhabited by more than 700 microbial species and many intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect the composition, metabolic activity and pathogenicity of the highly diversified oral microflora (Samaranayake et al, 2002; Aas et al, 2005) This fact has been correlated mainly to the use of broad-spectrum antibacterials, corticosteroids, anti-tumoral agents, oral contraceptives and increase in the number of immunocompromised patients (Eggimann et al, 2003). In the majority of clinical investigations, yeasts are routinely cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). This media is reliable for isolation of yeasts but overall, the colonies on SDA media are very similar in appearance and their subsequent identification in laboratory is required. It has been demonstrated that β-Nacetylgalactosaminidase which was produced by C. albicans enables the chromogenic substrates to be incur-
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