The Frequency of Candida Albicans in the Oral Cavity of Patients withMajor Thalassemia and Normal Individuals

Abstract Background and objectives: Candida albicans is a normal flora in skin and mucosa and is not pathogen in normal individuals.The main defence against yeasts ,particulary Candida, is phagocytes, but phagocytesis and opsonization are reduced in thalassemia . the aim of this study was the determination of the frequency of Candida albicans and its species in the oral cavity of patients with major thalassemia and normal individuals. Material and Methods: This descriptive –analytic study was Conducted on 52 patients with major thalassemia and 104 normal individuals in Hamadan,2009. The specimens from oral cavity of the patients and control group were taken by sterile swab and then the direct exam and culture of all specimens were done Results: The Candida species in patients with thalassemia are Candida albicans (32.7%), tropicalis (13.5%) glaberata(10.5%), guilliermondii(10.9%) and Krusei(10.9%). In normal individuals,the frequency is 17.3%for albicans, 3.8% For tropicalis ,1% for glaberata and 1%for kefyr.Fifty-nine percent of the subjects undergone splenctomy and 23% of those with heathy Spleen have Candida in their oral cavity, this differene is statistically meaningful. Conclusion:The results show that suffering from thalassemia and spleenectomy can increase the possibitity of oral infection by Candida species. Key words: Major thalassemia,Candida albicans,Oral Cavity.