Oral Candida carriage and blood group antigen secretor status.

Oral Candida carriage and blood group antigen secretor status were examined in 92 healthy, young volunteers. Candida was isolated from 61 of 92 saliva samples (66% Candida carriage). In 76% of cases this was Candida albicans. Oral Candida carriage was found to be significantly associated with non-secretion of blood group antigens (P < 0.05). However, the numbers of Candida were higher in the saliva of secretors than of non-secretors (P < 0.01). A higher percentage of Candida carriage was observed in individuals with blood group O. Thus, the finding of higher carrier frequency in the non-secretors and in blood group O subjects is confirmed.