Characterization of Candida Species from Oral Thrush in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Seropositive and Seronegative Patients

Oral thrush caused by Candida species is usually an opportunistic infection. It is usually caused by Candida albicans, however, over the last decade reports of “non-albicans Candida” causing this condition are increasing. The present study was undertaken to assess the role of C. albicans vis a vis “non-albicans Candida” in the causation of oral thrush. Eighty patients with oral thrush were included in this study. Fifty patients were Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) seropositive and 30 patients were HIV seronegative. Oral swabs collected from the lesions in both groups were subjected to a battery of standard mycological tests that yielded Candida species in 78.75% patients. Isolation of C.albicans was 66% from the HIV seropositive group and 60% from the HIV seronegative group. The “non-albicans Candida” formed 24% of the Candida isolates from the HIV seropositive group while no “non-albicans Candida” was isolated from the HIV seronegative group. The commonest “non-albicans Candida” isolated were Candida dubliniensis (17.77%), Candida parapsilosis (6.66%) and Candida tropicalis (2.22%). It is important to specify the Candida as the “non-albicans Candida” group is more likely to develop drug resistance.