Identification, genotyping and invasive enzyme production of oral Candida species from denture induced stomatitis patients and healthy careers

Abstract

ObjectiveDenture induced stomatitis (DIS) is often associated withCandida infection. This study aimed to identify oral Candida species from DIS patients and healthy careers and to evaluate their invasive enzyme production. MethodsCandida from DIS patients (n = 38) and healthy careers (n = 23) were identified using chromogenic agar and molecular techniques. Phospholipase, esterase and hemolysin activities of C. albicans were evaluated using in vitro assays. ResultsChromogenic agar revealed 29 C. albicans and 09 non-C. albicans Candida among pathogenic isolates. Commensal isolates consisted of 18 C. albicans and 05 non-C. albicans Candida. PCR-RFLP analysis identified C. albicans (76.3 %) as the commonest pathogenic species followed by C. glabrata (13.2 %), C. parapsilosis (5.3 %) and C. tropicalis (5.3 %). Within commensal isolates, C. albicans (78.3 %) was leading followed by C. parapsilosis (13 %), C. glabrata (4.3 %) and C. guilliermondii (4.3 %). Furthermore, ABC genotyping revealed that pathogenic C. albicans genotype A (69 %) was predominant followed by genotypes C (20.7 %) and B (10.3 %). Commensal C. albicans had only the genotype A. Phospholipase, esterase and hemolysin activities of pathogenic C. albicans were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of commensals. ConclusionsC. albicans is the leading Candida species isolated from DIS patients and healthy careers. C. albicans genotype A remains predominant in both pathogenic and commensal isolates while prevalence of genotype C is more than the genotype B among the pathogenic isolates. C. albicans from DIS patients has significantly higher phospholipase, esterase and haemolysin activities compared to commensals which may contribute in pathogenesis.