Candida albicans in Periodontology: Clinical and Diagnostic Aspects

Periodontal diseases are multifactorial inflammatory conditions in which biofilm bacteria have long been considered the sole major causative agents. However, recent data suggest the possible involvement of yeasts such as Candida albicans. This book explores this link through two main sections: a review of the current knowledge on the microbiology of periodontitis, the biology of C. albicans, its virulence factors, and fungal identification techniques; followed by a clinical study conducted among young Moroccan subjects, assessing the prevalence of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis, and comparing several diagnostic methods (filamentation test, Bichro-latex, Bichro-Dubli, Vitek 2 Yeast, PCR). The results reveal a significant association between C. albicans and periodontitis, as well as variations in performance among the tests. The book highlights the importance of considering this yeast as an opportunistic pathogen in periodontal pathogenesis. It is intended for researchers, clinicians, microbiologists, dentists, and students.