Associations between Species Mutans Streptococci and Candida Albicans in Oral Cavity of Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities

Background: Oral microorganisms produce damage through the transfer to blood stream, colonising other tissues or direct damage in the oral cavity. Aim is to compare the association between mutans streptococci and the C. albicans in the saliva of the oral cavity of patients with Intellectual disabilities (ID). This study determined the quantitative interaction between mutans streptococci (MS) and the C.albicans (CA) and mutans streptococci species in saliva especially. Scanning electron microscopy identified morphological types of microorganisms in saliva and dental calculus of Chonoan (Chonos) ancestral human remains. Patient and Methods: Our study included 120 patients of both genders: 60 patients with Intellectual disabilities (ID) and 60 patients as a control group (CG). Samples of saliva were taken and bacteria and fungi were grown on TYCSB and Sabouraud agar. Microbiological, serological and quantitative analyses were performed to determine the type of isolation of microorganisms corresponding to the streptococci mutans(SM) c, e, f and k for species S. mutans and d, g for S. sobrinus (SS) and C. albicans (CA). Scanning microscopy was employed to visualize and confirm the morphotype under study. Statistical analysis included t-test proofs for matched data test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis. Results: Forming units CFU per-ml of saliva of C. albicans presented a significant difference observed among ID>CG groups. A correlation of the MS quantity and the C. albicans count was found by age intervals. However, tendencies were different in ID and CG. Also, the CFU of C. albicans was independent from the serotypes of MS (c, e, f, k, d, g and no type), and morphotype of microorganisms present in calculus dental human remains of human Chonoan. Conclusion: These results show a significant non-random association between these two commensal microorganisms in different patient groups, morphotypes of microorganisms present in saliva and dental calculus of de Chonoan ancestral human remains.