The production of phospholipase and proteinase exoenzymes was evaluated in seventy nine samples of Candida isolated from the oral cavity of patients with oral lesions characteristic of candidosis and from individuals presenting a clinically normal mouth, attended at the University of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto USP. Among the strains of C. albicans isolated from oral lesions, the phospholipase and proteinase were detected in 83.3% and 66.7%, respectively. C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis produced only proteinase. Regarding the isolated strains from niches without lesions, out of a total of 32 C. albicans, 71.9% presented phospholipase and 68.7% proteinase. C. tropicalis only presented the enzyme proteinase, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. guilliermondii and Candida spp did not present any of the exoenzymes. Among the samples of C. albicans from both groups, the enzymotype 22 (positive phospholipase and proteinase weakly positive), was prevalent. Different enzymotypes of the same species were detected in samples collected from the same patient.
Yeasts; C. albicans; Enzimotyping; Oral candidosis
