Evaluation of Virulence Attributes and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Species in Patients with Deep Dental Caries

Abstract

Candida species are increasingly recognized as important opportunistic pathogens in oral infections, particularly in patients with deep dental caries, where their virulence factors such as haemolysin production and biofilm formation contribute to tissue invasion, persistence, and antifungal resistance^[1]. The present study aimed to isolate Candida species from patients with deep dental caries and to evaluate their haemolysin activity, biofilm-forming ability, and antifungal susceptibility patterns. Isolation and identification of Candida were performed using standard mycological techniques, followed by detection of haemolysin activity and biofilm production using established laboratory assays. A total of 50 clinical samples were collected and processed, and antifungal susceptibility testing was carried out according to CLSI guidelines. Of the samples analyzed, 11 (22%) yielded Candida species, including C. albicans (54.5%), C. dubliniensis (27.3%), and C. krusei (18.2%). All isolates exhibited haemolytic activity, while biofilm formation was observed in 90% of isolates, with C. dubliniensis showing strong biofilm-producing ability. Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed the highest resistance to clotrimazole (54%), whereas all isolates were sensitive to amphotericin B, highlighting the significant virulence potential and emerging antifungal resistance of Candida species associated with deep dental caries and emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and rational antifungal therapy