Abstract
Candida species are considered the primary causative agents of denture stomatitis, but their role in colonization and disease in denture wearers remains undefined. In this study, we investigated risk factors associated with progression to Candida-related denture stomatitis in patients using complete dentures, and we genetically identified Candida isolates associated with disease and colonization. We recruited 114 retirement home residents for this study, from whom oral mucosa samples were collected and cultured following oral cavity exams. Morphologic analysis was used to identify potential yeast-positive cultures, which were then characterized further by RFLP analysis. C. albicans was the most frequently recovered species (61; 41.5%), followed by C. glabrata (27; 18.4%), and C. tropicalis (19; 12.9%). In addition, 16 isolates (10.9%) of C. dubliniensis were recovered, which was the first identification of this species in clinical samples from Iran. This study demonstrated a significant association between the duration of denture wear and oral candidiasis. Furthermore, we noted a high prevalence of C. dubliniensis in complete denture wearers.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Dr Negar Feyzi and Farnaz Bayani for their help in sample collection. The authors would also like to thank Professor McGinnis, Dr Brown and Dr Chris Tachibana for reviewing and editing of the manuscript.
Declaration of interest: This study is part of a dentistry thesis (No.1103) and the study was financially supported by the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (grant number 85-3239). The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper and declare no conflicts of interest.
This paper was first published online on Early Online on 27 August 2010.