Isolation and identification of some fungi that cause otomycosis in the Misan Governorate

Abstract

Otomycosis specimens were collected from 25 (9 is negative and 16 postive) patients aged 6 months to 55 years 6 males and 10 females) at Al-Sadr General Teaching Hospital, Massan Province, between 01/01/2021 and 01/02/2022. Data, such as age and sex, were also recorded. The collected specimens were grown on Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA), which contained chloramphinicol (0.05 g), in addition to chrom candid agar for Candida sp. And 16 specimens were positive for culture (53%). The highest rate of infection was observed among females (62.5%) compared to males (37.5%), whereas the 31-40 year age range in both sexes showed a higher prevalence rate (37.5%), and the age ranges of 6–10 years and 21-30 years in both sexes showed a lower prevalence rate (6.25%). Aspergillus sp. and Candida sp. were the most frequent etiological factors of otomycosis and the results showed that Aspergillus niger had the highest incidence (37.5%) (6 isolates), followed by Candida krusei (18.7%) (3 isolates) and A. fumigatus, C. parapsilosis, C. ablicans, C. tropicalis and A. lentulus (6.25%) (one isolate for each fungus).