Adherence of Candida albicans to oral epithelial cells differentiated by Papanicolaou staining

Objective-To examine the relative adherence of Candida albicans to oral epi thelial cells differentiated by Papanicolaou staining. Methods-Oral epithelial cells were collected from 10 healthy adults (five m ale, five female) and counted. Equal volumes of oral epithelial cells and c andida were mixed and incubated. The epithelial cells from this mix were co llected by filtration through 10 mu m polycarbonate membrane filters. Cells retained on the membrane filters were stained with crystal violet followed by Papanicolaou stain. The number of yeast attached to each of 100 red, or ange, and green staining oral epithelial cells was determined by direct mic roscopic examination. Results-C albicans had a higher level of adherence (p < 0.001) to red stain ing oral epithelial cells (mean (SD) number of candida attached to 100 oral epithelial cells 562 (159)) than to cells staining either orange (105 (47) ) or green (161 (66)). Conclusions-Oral epithelial cell variability for candidal adherence is conf irmed. The technique provides an opportunity to examine the relation betwee n oral epithelial cell type and oral candidosis in specific groups, such as tobacco smokers, where increased epithelial cell keratinisation and candid al colonisation has been reported.