This study aimed to improve diagnostic accuracy for vaginal candidiasis using biochemical assays, explore the potential of Enolase-1 (ENO1) and interleukin-9 (IL-9) as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, assess the impact of obesity on disease risk and severity related to these biomarkers, and provide insights into personalized treatment approaches.

This study was conducted among women enrolled at Kamal Al-Samarrai Hospital, with laboratory investigations completed at the University of Baghdad’s College of Science for Women between November 2024 and March 2025. A total of 120 women aged 15–50 years were enrolled, including 40 apparently healthy women as controls and 80 women diagnosed with vaginal candidiasis. Based on culture results on Sabouraud dextrose agar and Chromogen agar (CHROMagar) Candida, infected cases were classified into Candida albicans (n = 50) and non-Candida albicans (NCA) groups (n = 30). Species identification revealed 50 isolates of C. albicans, 13 of C. glabrata, 8 of C. tropicalis, 6 of C. krusei, and 3 of C. parapsilosis.

In conclusion, ENO1 and IL-9 are significantly elevated in women with vaginal candidiasis and exhibit outstanding diagnostic accuracy, especially when measured in vaginal secretions. Their associations with lipid profile parameters suggest that host metabolic status, including obesity-related dyslipidemia, may influence Candida pathogenicity and host immune responses. These findings support the potential utility of ENO1 and IL-9 as reliable biomarkers for diagnosis, disease severity assessment, and therapeutic monitoring, and provide a foundation for integrating biomarker-based approaches into personalized management strategies for high-risk populations, such as women with obesity or polycystic ovary syndrome.

the average obtained  Excellent