| Summary: | Introduction: <i>Candida dubliniensis</i> was reclassified from the <i>C. albicans</i> genotype D, and reports show its frequent detection in HIV-positive individuals and easy acquisition of antifungal drug resistance. However, the oral carriage rate in healthy people and contribution to candidiasis in Japan is unclear. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of the <i>C. dubliniensis</i> carriage rate, performed genotyping and tested antifungal drug susceptibility and protease productivity. Specimens from 2432 Japanese subjects in six regions (1902 healthy individuals, 423 with candidiasis individuals, 107 HIV-positive individuals) were cultured using CHROMagar<sup>TM</sup>Candida, and the species was confirmed via 25S rDNA amplification and ITS sequences analyzed for genotyping. Results: The <i>C. dubliniensis</i> carriage rate in healthy Japanese was low in the central mainland (0–15%) but high in the most northerly and southerly areas (30–40%). The distribution of these frequencies did not differ depending on age or disease (HIV-infection, candidiasis). Genotype I, previously identified in other countries, was most frequent in Japan, but novel genotypes were also observed. Six antifungal drugs showed higher susceptibility against <i>C. albicans</i>, but protease productivity was low. Conclusions: Oral <i>C. dubliniensis</i> has low pathogenicity with distribution properties attributed to geography and not dependent on age or disease status.
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