Isolation and Identification of the Fungi that Causes Eye Infection in Wasit Province, Iraq

Abstract

Fungal ocular infection is one of the most important infections in Iraq inspite of it occcure in low incidence in compare with bacterial and viral eye infections. Two hundred(200) eye swabs samples were taken from patients suffering of eye infections. After culturing on the related selective media, results showed that 29 (15%) of the samples were positive for occurrence of microorganisms; of these, 26 (91%) were belonged to mold and 3 (9%) yeast. After the fungal isolates were identified by cultural and microscopic examinations, the following species and percentages were recorded: Aspergillusflavus 13 (45%), Aspergillusterrus 5 (17%), Aspergillusfumigatus4 (14%), Aspergillus niger 2 (7%), Penicillium spp. 1 (4%) and Alternaria spp. 1 (4%). While the yeast isolates were belonged to Candidaguilliermondii 1(3%), Candidaciferrii 1(3%) and Cryptococcuslaurentii 1(3%) according to their identification through the cultural, microscopic examinations, in addition to the biochemical examinations by using VITEC 2 system. Upon such findings, Aspergillusflavus was the predominant fungi. Regarding to the patients gender, it was found that cases of fungal eye infections in males two fold than in females. Patients group of age (50-59) years was the most infected group. Tobacco smoking and Diabetes have positive effects on infections, while there was no effects for blood pressure.