Frequency and enzymatic activity (proteinase and phospholipase) of Candida albicans from edentulous patients, with and without denture stomatitis

Abstract

The so called erithematous stomatitis is frequently observed in denture wearers, being local factors, mainly related to the presence of yeasts, considered important for its development. Having these aspects in mind, we evaluated edentulous patients with and without denture stomatitis (DS), identifying the yeasts obtained from the palate, and determining the relative level of the proteinase and phospholipase exo-enzymes produced by C. albicans. The results suggested that C. albicans was the most frequent species observed, being more prevalent in patients presenting DS, isolated or in association with other yeasts, with high expression of proteinase.