title: Prevalence of Candida albicans and carriage of Candida non-albicans in the saliva of preschool children, according to their caries status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to establish associations among the Candida carriage rate, the diversity of Candida species carried and the different caries status of preschool children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one children between 2 and 5 years of age were examined by a single expert examiner and were divided into three groups, the caries-free, moderate caries and severe caries groups, according to the criteria of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System II (ICDAS). Saliva samples were obtained from the members of each group and were plated on Sabouraud agar plates to assess the Candida carriage rates. CHROMagar Candida medium was used for the preliminary screening. Biochemical testing or PCR/sequencing was conducted to identify the different Candida species in the samples. The differences observed were considered significant if the p value was <0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Candida carriage rate and the number of species of this fungus carried were higher in the group with the highest level of caries severity (p < 0.05). Whereas Candida albicans was the most predominant Candida species in the saliva of all of the children, C. dubliniensis was identified only in the most caries-affected group in addition to other rare species of Candida non-albicans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high salivary Candida carriage rate and the presence of specific species of this fungus (such as C. albicans and C. dubliniensis) appear to be related to the severity of caries experienced by preschool children.
authors: a Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors: Carla Paola
authors: CP
authors: Lozano Moraga
authors: b Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors: Gonzalo Andrés
authors: GA
authors: Rodríguez Martínez
authors: a Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors: Claudia Andrea
authors: CA
authors: Lefimil Puente
authors: a Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors: Irene Cecilia
authors: IC
authors: Morales Bozo
authors: a Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors: Blanca Regina
authors: BR
authors: Urzúa Orellana
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D041022:Candida tropicalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media
keywords: Candida species; ICDAS II; carriage; dental caries