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Causative Agents of Fungal Keratitis in Northeastern Iran: A 3-Year Tertiary Care Hospital Study
Shaghayegh Moghadam
Shaghayegh Moghadam
Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
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Hossein Zarrinfar
Zarrinfarh@mums.ac.ir
Hossein Zarrinfar
Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
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Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
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Ali Naseri
Ali Naseri
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
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Javad Sadeghi
Javad Sadeghi
Eye Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
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Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh
Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
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Ya Bin Zhou
Ya Bin Zhou
Department of Dermatology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, China;
Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Jos Houbraken
j.houbraken@wi.knaw.nl
Jos Houbraken
Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Infectious keratitis is a significant ocular disease that, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. Fungi are among the causative agents that can result in severe symptoms. Keratitis infections are prevalent globally, with a higher incidence reported in tropical and subtropical regions. The current research focused on the molecular diagnosis of fungal keratitis and its prevalence over a 3-year period in northeastern Iran. The study involved the collection of 38 corneal scraping specimens from the Eye Specialized Hospital of Khatam in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. These specimens were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar, and the isolates were identified using DNA-based techniques. Among the patients studied (n = 38), 22 (58%) cases were caused by Aspergillus species (A. flavus, n = 17, A. fumigatus, n = 3; A. terreus, n = 1; A. tubingensis, n = 1), seven (18%) by Neocosmospora species (N. falciformis, n = 4; N. solani, n = 3), three (7%) by Candida albicans, two (5%) by Fusarium annulatum, and one case each (2%) by Penicillium chrysogenum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Cytospora sp. In addition, one case had a combined infection of A. flavus and P. glabrum. The results indicate a higher incidence of fungal keratitis in males, particularly in the age range of 40–60 years. Aspergillus sp., and specifically A. flavus, had the highest prevalence. Cladosporium cladosporioides is reported for the first time in this area as causal agent of keratitis. Additionally, this is the first report of keratitis likely caused by Cytospora species.
Author Notes
Financial support: This work was supported by the
Current contact information: Shaghayegh Moghadam, Hossein Zarrinfar, Ali Naseri, Javad Sadeghi, and Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran, E-mails: shaghamo1999@gmail.com, zarrinfarh@mums.ac.ir or h.zarrin@gmail.com, naseria@mums.ac.ir, sadeghij@mums.ac.ir, and najafzadehmj@mums.ac.ir or javad.najafzadeh@gmail.com. Ya Bin Zhou, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands, E-mail: y.zhou@wi.knaw.nl. Jos Houbraken, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands, E-mail: j.houbraken@wi.knaw.nl.
| Past two years | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 862 | 862 | 668 |
| Full Text Views | 18 | 18 | 11 |
| PDF Downloads | 17 | 17 | 11 |