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

Abstract

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 <i>Candida albicans</i>, 5% with <i>C. guilliermondi</i>, 3% with <i>C. lusitaniae</i> and 3% with <i>C. parapsilosis</i>. 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 <i>C. albicans</i> 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.