Treatment with probiotics in experimental oral colonization by Candida albicans in murine model (DBA/2): Treatment with probiotic in experimental oral colonization

The aim of this study is to evaluate the oral colonization by Candida albicans in experimental murine immuno- suppressed DBA ⁄ 2 and treatment with probiotic bacteria. To achieve these objectives, 152 DBA ⁄ 2-immunosup- pressed mice were orally inoculated with a suspension of C. albicans containing 108 viable yeast cells, the animals were treated with nystatin or with the probiotics (Lacto- bacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus). Evalua- tions were performed by Candida count from oral mucosa swabbing. The oral mucosa colonization by C. albicans started at day 1 after inoculation, remained maximal from day 3 until day 7, and then decreased significantly. Probi- otics reduced the C. albicans colonization significantly on the oral mucosa in comparison with the untreated animal group. In the group treated with L. rhamnosus, the reduction in yeast colonization was significantly higher compared with that of the group receiving nystatin. Im- munosuppressed animal model DBA ⁄ 2 is a relevant model for experimental Candida oral colonization, and the treatment with probiotics in this model may be an effective alternative to prevent it.