Evaluation of Micronuclei, Nuclear Anomalies and the Nuclear/Cytoplasmic Ratio of Exfoliated Cervical Epithelial Cells in Genital Candidiasis

• Published in: Acta cytologica Vol. 59; no. 2; p. 180
• Main Authors: Safi Oz, Zehra, Dogan Gun, Banu, Ozdamar, Sukru Oguz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - genetics; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - microbiology; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal - pathology; Cell Nucleus - microbiology; Cell Nucleus - pathology; Cell Nucleus Shape; Cell Nucleus Size; Cell Proliferation; Cell Shape; Cell Size; Cervix Uteri - microbiology; Cervix Uteri - pathology; Cytoplasm - microbiology; Cytoplasm - pathology; DNA Damage; Epithelial Cells - microbiology; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Female; Humans; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; Middle Aged; Papanicolaou Test; Predictive Value of Tests; Retrospective Studies; Vaginal Smears
• ISSN: 0001-5547; 1938-2650
• DOI: 10.1159/000381615

Candida is the most common cause of fungal infections. The aim of this study was to fill the gaps in the current knowledge on the frequencies of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies, and the nucleus/cytoplasmic ratio in genital candidiasis. A total of 88 Papanicolaou- stained cervical smears, which comprised Candida spp. (n = 44) and control cases with no infectious agent (n = 44), were studied. In each smear, cells with micronuclei and nuclear anomalies were counted in 1,000 epithelial cells and also nuclear and cellular areas were evaluated using image analysis software at a magnification of ×400. The frequencies of micronucleated and binucleated cells and cells with perinuclear halos, and the nucleus/cytoplasmic ratio of epithelial cells were higher in the Candida-infected group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Genital candidiasis is able to induce changes in the size and shape of epithelial cells. The nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and the frequency of micronuclei may reflect the DNA damage in the cervical epithelium. Micronucleus scoring could be used to screen the genomic damage profile of epithelial cells in candidiasis.