+44 330 818 7254Vroumsia Toua, Moussa Djaouda*, Bouba Gak̮̩̉̉, Daniel Ebang Menye, Ebot Akoachere Christie et al
This investigation was carried out at two referral hospitals of Maroua (Far-North, Cameroon), involving 211 (112 pregnant and 99 non pregnant) women of age interval 16-45, to estimate the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) amongst pregnant women and to determine the sensitivity of Candida albicans culture to extracts of six locally used antifungal plants. Prevalence and various potential risk factors for VVC were assessed during a survey. Women provided vaginal swabs. Isolation of Candida albicans from swabs was done using Sabouraud Chloramphenicol Agar (SCA) (manufactured by Bio- Rad). The sensitivity of Candida albicans cultures was determined on SCA and Muller Hinton agar to the six plants extracts. The results indicated that the prevalence of VVC was higher amongst pregnant (55.4%) than non-pregnant women (35.4%). Associated risk factors such as douching habits, use of antibiotics and poor toilet facilities and sanitary conditions favor this prevalence. Candida albicans does not appear to be transmitted sexually, and episodes of VVC do not appear to be related to the number of sexual partners. Amongst the plants studied Allium sativum, Sena alata and Ocimum gratissimum had the greatest inhibitory activity against Candida albicans. Because of their antifungal effects, clinical trial should be performed to determine the usefulness of the extracts of these plants for the treatment of VVC.
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