Candida species as salivary biomarkers for early detection of malignant and potentially malignant oral disease: An observational study

Background: Whole saliva is a unique body fluid. It is a complex mixture deriving from the secretion of salivary glands, gingival fold and oral mucosa. Candidal infection in the epithelium may lead to epithelial dysplasia and malignancy. The etiopathogenesis of OSCC and oral possibly malignant diseases has been linked to Candida species. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted. The purpose of the study was to look at the presence and speciation of Candida in unstimulated saliva as a possible biomarker for the early identification of oral diseases that are malignant or possibly malignant. Species-level identification was performed on unstimulated whole saliva, statistically analysis was done. Results: The presence of Candida varied significantly between groups ( P < 0.001). Candida was detected in 17 (58.6%) OSCC patients, whereas its presence was much lower in both the oral potentially malignant disorder (2 cases, 6.2%) and healthy control groups (2 cases, 6.9%). The most commonly isolated species, especially in the OSCC group, was Candida albicans (12 cases), followed by 2 cases of Candida tropicalis , 1 case of Candida dubliniensis , and 1 case of Candida inconspicua . Conclusion: Research reveals a notable distinction between those with OSCC and those in good health with normal mucosa, indicating the significance of fungal in OSCC. In this sense, Candida species may be regarded as a risk factor for the development of OSCC.