Saliva promotes survival and even proliferation of Candida spp. in tap-water

FEMS Microbiology Letters
DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2011.02379.x

Abstract

Candida yeasts colonize humans’ oral cavities as commensals or opportunistic pathogens. They may be isolated from water circulating in dental unit waterlines mixed with saliva traces mainly because of dysfunction of anti-retraction valves. This study deals with the growth ability of C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis in tap-water with saliva (0% to 20% v/v). Results show that C. glabrata is the most susceptible species in tap-water. Furthermore, saliva promotes both survival and proliferation of the three studied Candida species in tap-water.

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