Relative pathogenicity of Candida tropicalis in rat tongue mucosa

A Denture Use Model Associated with Candida spp. in Immunocompetent Male and Female Rats

Denture stomatitis (DS) is a common infection in denture wearers, especially women. This study evaluated the induction of DS using acrylic devices attached to the palate of rats combined with inoculation of Candida spp. Immunocompetent male and female rats received a carbohydrate-rich diet. Impressions were taken from the rats’ palate to individually fabricate acrylic devices. Mono- and multispecies biofilms of C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis were grown on the devices, which were then cemented on posterior teeth and kept in the rats’ palate for four weeks. Microbial samples from the palate and the device were quantified. Oral microbiome of rats inoculated with C. albicans was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Log10(CFU/mL) were analyzed by mixed or two-way MANOVA (α = 0.05). Candida spp. and acrylic device did not induce palatal inflammation macroscopically nor microscopically. Although there was an increase (p < 0.001) of the total microbiota and female rats demonstrated higher (p = 0.007) recovery of Candida spp. from the palate, the gender differences were not biologically relevant. The microbiome results indicate an increase in inflammatory microbiota and reduction in health-associated micro-organisms. Although Candida spp. and acrylic device did not induce DS in immunocompetent rats, the shift in microbiota may precede manifestation of inflammation.

Candidal urinary tract infections caused by non-albicans Candida species

The incidence of non-albicans Candida and non-Candida species isolated from the urine of patients admitted to various departments of the Faculty Hospital of the Medical Faculty of Safárik University in Kosice was examined. From a total of 94 samples of analyzed urine 58 strains of C. albicans and 36 strains of yeasts belonging to 6 species of non-albicans Candida and non-Candida spp. were detected: C. parapsilosis (n = 23), C. tropicalis (6), C. krusei (3), C. robusta (2), C. catenulata (1) and Cryptococcus neoformans (1). In relation to the diagnosis, the yeasts were isolated from patients suffering from a kidneys disease, epididymitis, diabetes, neoplastic diseases, urogenital anomalies, obstructive uropathy, cystitis, prostatitis, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and others.

The histopathological characterization of oral Candida leukoplakias

Sixty four biopsy specimens of oral Candida leukoplakias were examined. Histological sections were stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent and by Grocott's silver method. C. albicans isolates were cultivated from all the patients but fungal hyphae were proved histologically only in 23 of them. PAS-positive and Grocott-positive elements were exclusively observed in the superficial epithelial layers, e.g., the cornified layer and the stratum granulosum. The inflammatory reaction was characterized by an early phase during which polymorphonuclear cells predominated. The skeletal muscle fascicles immediately adjacent to the infected epithelium showed striking degeneration and atrophy associated with a marked infiltrate of chronic inflammatory cells.

Detection of anti-Candida antibodies in neonates from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Anti-Candida antibodies were determined in a group of preterm neonates from a neonatal intensive care unit with serious diseases including candidemia. Antibodies to C. albicans blastospores, i.e. antibodies to C. albicans surface mannan and to C. albicans germ tubes were detected. Higher titers of antibodies to blastospores (1:320) occurred in all patients examined while antibodies to C. albicans germ tubes (with the highest titer of 1:160) were present in 32 out of 66 neonates examined. The highest titers of both anti-C. albicans blastospore antibodies and anti-C. albicans germ tube antibodies were detected in neonates with candidemia and disorders of saccharide metabolism.

Fungal diseases of the respiratory tract

The proportion of Candida and non-Candida species in the clinical material from patients with respiratory-tract diseases was determined. C. albicans was isolated in 102 cases. An additional 89 strains of yeasts, isolated in association with respiratory diseases, belonged to 10 non-albicans Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. The prevailing species, which occurred in 47 cases, was C. parapsilosis. C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, and C. guilliermondii were isolated in 12, 10, and 9 cases, respectively. Four strains of C. krusei and three strains of C. lusitaniae and one strain each of C. freyschussii, C. robusta, C. zeylanoides, and Cryptococcus neoformans were also isolated.

Cutaneous candidosis in immunosuppressed patients

One-hundred patients with candidosis of the skin, mucous membranes and nail plates (confirmed by cultivation) were examined. Topical or systemic antimycotic treatment was successful in 58 patients. After a complete evaluation, 42 patients were found to suffer from factors supporting candidosis--diabetes mellitus (12), anemia (3) and various local factors (10 patients); 27 patients showed a deficiency in cell-mediated immunity. In addition to intensive antimycotic therapy, successful treatment is affected by the actual immunity level and can be ensured by efficient immunomodulation treatment of immunodeficiency.