Abstract

CANDIDA ALBICANS AND NON ALBICANS SPECIES AS A PATHOGEN CAUSING ORAL CANDIDIASIS

Shaista Suhail, Vijay Kumar, Vikram Khanna, O.P Gupta, Devendra Kumar, Shalini Gupta*

Abstract

A part of the normal microbial flora of mucosal surfaces in humans forms by a small number of Candida species which may give rise to opportunistic infections when host defences are impaired. Among all Candida species, Candida albicans is the most prevalent commensal and pathogenic. Now a day the reported incidence of fungal infections associated with non-albicans species from the Candida genus is increasing presently. Most of these infections occur in Patients with weak immune system especially those infected with HIV. These emerging species of Candida are favored by the increase of immune compromised patients and new medical practices, and most oropharyngeal candidiasis is observed in HIV-infected patients. Candida non albican species such as Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis and Candida dubliniensis are also emerging as a pathogen causing infection in humans increasing the severity of Candidal species. Candida dubliniensis is a recently described opportunistic pathogen that is closely related to C.albicanss but differs from it with respect to epidemiology, certain virulence characteristics, and the ability to develop fluconazole resistance. Most strains of C. dubliniensis are susceptible to antifungal agents, fluconazoleresistant strains have been detected while C.albicans, C.parapsilosis, and C.tropicalis remain susceptible to polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins. However, C.glabrata and C.krusei show reduced triazole susceptibility. In addition, the majority of isolates of C. albicans are less susceptible to flucytosine.

Keywords: Candida albicans, C.albicans, C.parapsilosis, C.glabrata.