Oral Candida albicans colonization in healthy individuals: prevalence, genotypic diversity, stability along time and transmissibility

• Main Authors: Ângela Gerós-Mesquita, Joana Carvalho-Pereira, Ricardo Franco-Duarte, Armandino Alves, Hernâni Gerós, Célia Pais, Paula Sampaio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
• Series: Journal of Oral Microbiology
• Subjects: oral colonization; healthy individuals; yeasts; smoking habits; candida albicans; cai genotype
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2020.1820292

In this study, 181 healthy individuals, including 29 couples, were analysed regarding oral yeast colonization using a culture-based approach. Results showed that 39% of the individuals were yeast carriers, 89% being colonized with Candida albicans, 5% with C. guilliermondi, 3% with C. lusitaniae and 3% with C. parapsilosis. Sixty-two percent of the couples had at least one member colonized. Colonization and CFU counts were higher in the couples´ group. Eighty percent of the volunteers were colonized with C. albicans strains with only one CAI genotype, while two but similar CAI genotypes inhabited the oral cavity of the remaining 20% individuals. The same CAI genotypes were found in 66.6% of the couples when both were colonized. Our results indicate that the intimacy among couples increases the probability of heavy cross-colonization, which is potentiated when one member of the couple is a smoker.