RESUMO
Background: There is a debate as to whether some types of oral leucoplakias (OL) are caused by Candida species,and whether they contribute to the malignant transformation, associated with a minority of such lesions. As nodetailed population analysis of yeast isolates from OL is available, we evaluated the virulence attributes, and geno-types of 35 C. albicans from OL, and compared their genotypes with 18 oral isolates from healthy individuals.Material and Methods: The virulence traits evaluated were esterase, phospholipase, proteinase, haemolysin andcoagulase production, and phenotypic switching activity, and yeast adherence and biofilm formation. DNA fromOL and control yeasts were evaluated for A, B or C genotype status.Results: Phospholipase, proteinase, and coagulase activity and biofilm formation was observed in 80%, 66%, 97% and 77 % of the isolates, respectively. Phenotypic switching was detected in 8.6%, while heamolytic, and ester-ase activity and adherence were noted in all isolates.Conclusions: The genotype A was predominant amongst both the OL and control groups. Due to the small samplesize of our study a larger investigation to define the role of candidal virulent attributes in the pathogenicity of OLis warranted, and the current data should serve as a basis until then.(AU)
