*1,2Okeke, P. C. U., 1,2Nwafia, I. N., and 1,2Emeribe,S. C.
¹Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria
²Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: princess.okeke@unn.edu.ng; Tel: +2348037117982; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009–0004–2522–2416
Abstract:
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) affects an estimated 70-75% of women at least once before menopause, and recurrent disease is estimated to affect approximately 138 million women annually worldwide. Within this global picture, sub-Saharan Africa carries a disproportionate share of non-albicans Candida infection and reported antifungal resistance, yet remains one of the least-studied regions for the mechanistic, immunological and therapeutic research now reshaping the field elsewhere. This mini-review summarizes the available African-specific evidence, identifies where that evidence stops short of matching the region’s disease burden, and proposes concrete regional research priorities. The central challenge is not simply a shortage of prevalence surveys, of which a reasonable number now exist, but the near-total absence of African data from every mechanistic and translational thread currently advancing VVC science elsewhere: host immunogenetics, vaginal and gut microbiome characterization, novel antifungal evaluation, and vagina-specific diagnostic standards.
Keywords: Vulvovaginal candidiasis, Antifungal resistance, Non-albicans Candida, Research priorities, Host genetics, Africa
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