OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the prevalence of Candida albicans and early childhood caries(ECC) among 3-5 years old children of Uygur and Han nationalities in Kashi city, Xinjiang province.

METHODSTotally 397 generally healthy children(Uyghurs 256, Hans141) aged 3-5 years were recruited randomly in Kashi city using the stratified cluster random method. Dental plaque samples were collected from carious tooth tissues of children with ECC and from supragingival tooth sites of caries free(CF) children, respectively. Plaque samples were cultured and Candida albicans were isolated selectively by using CHROM agar candida medium. The isolates were further identified using methods of germ tubes test, Gram stain and PCR molecular biology. The data were analyzed using Pearson χ(2) test and Spearman analysis.

RESULTSThe prevalenses of Candida albicans were 44.5% (114/256) in Han children and 31.2%(44/141) in Urgur children, respectively(P=0.009). Candida albicans could be isolated from 48.8% (124/254) of ECC children, while 23.8% (34/143) of CF ones(P=0.000). The frequencies of Candida albicans acquisition of boys and girls of Uygur children were 51.2%(66/129) and 37.8%(48/127), respectively (P=0.031). The frequencies of Candida albicans acquisition increased with the decayed missing filled tooth (dmft) scores. For both Uygur and Hanchildren, the detection rates of Candida albicans were correlated with dmft scores(Uygur r=0.350, P=0.001; Han r=0.276, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe oral Candida albicans distributions were different in Uygur and Han ethnic groups. There were significant correlations between the presence of Candida albicans and ECC severityas well as score of dmft. There was a difference of the Candida albicans distributions between boys and girls among Uygur children. Candida albicans might be one of the important cariogenic microorganisms in ECC.