CORRELATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADHERENCE OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS TO HUMAN VAGINAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS INVITRO AND CANDIDAL VAGINITIS

Abstract

This study investigated whether a correlation exists between predisposition vaginitis and adherence of C. albicans to vaginal epithelial cells in vitro. Vaginal epithelial cells from 120 fecund women who were pregnant and/or diabetic had a greater propensity to bind C. albicans than did 71 oral contraceptive users and 75 nonpregnant, nondiabetic controls. The highest level of adherence occurred in pregnant diabetic women. Among 48 nondiabetic postmenopausal females, C. albicans adherence was lower than for fecund controls, but it was higher for cells from 33 postmenopausal diabetic women. The hormonal status of the fecund and postmenopausal women was assayed cytologically by the Karyopyknotic and Maturation Indices which determine the ratios of superficial, intermediate and parabasal vaginal epithelial cells. The findings point to increased C. albicans adherence in situations where there is an increase in the number of intermediate epithelial cells: pregnancy, the first or fourth wk of the menstrual cycle, or diabetes. The adherence of 41 C. albicans isolates from patients with vaginitis was significantly higher than that of 36 isolates from asymptomatic carriers.