Oral carriage of<i>Candida albicans</i>, ABO blood group and secretor status in healthy subjects

Abstract

ABO blood group and secretor status were determined in healthy subjects in relation to oral carriage of Candida albicans, using a mouthwash technique to identify carriers and non-carriers. Of 100 subjects studied, 32% carried Candida, the main species isolated being C. albicans (94% isolates). Carriage of C. albicans was significantly associated with blood group O (p less than 0.001) and independently, with non-secretion of blood group antigens (p less than 0.001), with the trend towards carriage being greatest in group O non-secretors. This suggests that in healthy subjects, blood group O and non-secretion of blood group antigens are separate and cumulative risk factors for oral carriage of C. albicans.