Antibodies to Candida albicans in human cervicovaginal secretions.

The incidence of IgA and IgG antibodies against Candida albicans was determined in cervicovaginal secretions from 95 non-pregnant women. IgG antibodies were detected in 21.2% of women with vaginal candidosis, in 23.5% of women harbouring yeasts in the vagina without clinical signs of infection, and in 26.6% of women not harbouring yeasts in the vagina. IgA antibodies were found in 6.1% of women with vaginal candidosis, in 5.9% of women harbouring yeasts in the vagina without clinical signs of infection, and in 8.9% of women not harbouring yeasts in the vagina. IgG antibodies against C. albicans were detected in the serum of all 95 women. It is suggested that a proportion of the antibodies found in the secretions was derived from the circulation.