| Abstrakt: |
Objective: To examine oral colonization and virulence factors of Candidaspp. in patients aged from 0 to 18 months with cleft palate (CP).Materials and Methods: Sixty babies were allocated into 3 groups: CP, CP with orthodontic plate (CPwP), and control group (Ctrl) without CP. Information on feeding habits, hygiene, and history of candidosis was collected. The presence of Candidaspp. was investigated in samples of saliva. Fungal hydrophobicity, protease, esterase, phospholipase, and hemolysin were evaluated in a semiquantitative manner.Results: Positive oral isolations of Candidaspp. were detected in CP (89.5%), CPwP (100%), and Ctrl (44%) groups. Candidosis was more reported in the cleft groups than in the Ctrl group (P≤ .023). There was a higher prevalence of Candida albicans, followed by Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosisin all groups. There was no uniformity of expression of virulence factors, either among different species or among different groups.Conclusion: Candidaspp. colonization occurred in all groups, being superior in CPwP group. Candidosis episodes were more reported in patients from CPwP than in other groups, although candidosis was also registered in other groups. Candida albicanswas the predominant species and virulence factors did not exhibit any pattern for species or groups of patients. |
