Objective: The study aimed to investigate the presence of secretory acid proteinase, phospholipase, esterase activity, biofilm-forming capacities and antifungal susceptibility profiles in Candida species isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis and vaginal Candida colonization.

Methods: In this study, 1000 female patients who applied to obstetrics and gynaecology clinic were screened. The patients were examined by the clinician using the diagnostic criteria indices determined by the World Health Organization in genital tract infections. There were 112 patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis in the infection group, and 133 asymptomatic women in the colonization group. Identification of isolates; microscopic morphologies on cornmeal agar medium were made with matriks assisted lazer desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Proteinase activity of Candida isolates was determined by 1% bovine serum albumin medium, phospholipase activity was determined by egg yolk agar method, and the esterase activity was determined by Tween 80 added agar method, and slime factor presence was determined by Congo red brain-heart infusion agar method. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed using the gradient test method.

Results: Candida albicans was the most isolated species in the study, while Candida glabrata complex was the second. There was no statistical difference between the study groups in terms of virulence factors (p>0.05). At the species level, phospholipase and esterase positivity rates were found to be higher in Candida albicans (p=0.001). It was determined that the proteinase positivity rate was higher in Candida species other than Albicans (p=0.001) and they formed more biofilms (p=0.001).

Conclusion: In this study,no significant differences were identified between the groups in terms of virulence factors and antifungal sensitivities.