Frequency and enzymatic activity of Candida albicans isolated from the oral cavity of HIV-positive patients at Fortaleza, Ceará

Candida albicans and other species are usually involved in opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immunological deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The virulence mechanisms by which this yeast expresses its pathogenicity include adherence patterns, ability to form pseudomycelia and production of extracellular enzymes, among others. The objective of this research was to verify the frequency of Candida and the production of proteinase and phospholipase in 52 strains of Candida albicans from the oral cavity of patients infected by HIV treated at Hospital São José, AIDS reference and training center in Fortaleza, Ceará. Samples were collected of patients, with or without oral lesions characteristic of candidosis. From 100 patients, 80% presented positivity for Candida: 65% (52) were identified as C. albicans, 27.5% (22) as C. tropicalis, 2.5% (2) as C. glabrata, 2.5% (2) as C. krusei and 2.5% (2) as C. guilliermondii. Among the strains of C. albicans isolated from the oral cavity, proteinase and phospholipase were detected in 69.2% and 73%, respectively. The results suggested that C. albicans was the most frequent species observed, with intermediate expression of proteinase and phospholipase.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Menezes,Everardo Albuquerque, Monteiro,Maria Neuman Ricarte, Parente,Ticiana Mont’Alverne, Cunha,Francisco Afrânio, Augusto,Kristopherson Lustosa, Freire,Caio César Furtado
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Patologia Clínica 2006
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1676-24442006000400005
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