Ecological survey of opportunistie fungi in ocular infection with special reference to the taximetrie analysis of aspergillus and pencillium species

ABSTRACT

The importance of opportunistic fungal pathogens in causing ocular infections is emphasized. A study was conducted over a period of two years [1993-1994] to survey the ophthalmic as well as atmospheric fungi in Dakhlia and Qalubia Governorates at lower Egypt. From 500 patients suffering from keratomycosis, 14 species belonging to 12 fungal genera other than Aspergillus and Penicillium were identified. 10 genera comprising 13 fungal species other than Aspergilli and Penicillia were isolated from 250 farm animals showing clinical eye affections. 23 fungal genera including 60 fungal species were recorded as air-spora at the site of sampling. Of these atmospheric fungi, Aspergillus and Penicillium comprises 21 and 13 species respectively. A total of 47 characters and character states for Penicillium and 54 for Aspergillus are selected from morphological and physiological data on 13 and 38 ophthalmic collections described as Penicillium and Aspergillus respectively in this study. The most diverse isolates are become a subject for further taxonomic analysis for grouping the closely related isolates. The identification is judged by using known reference strains isolated from the surrounding atmosphere. Results lead to the suggestion a synoptic key for the etiological agents of corneal ulcer disease belonging to the two genera. The highest Q.S. values in this study indicated on the high affinities between ophthalmic and atmospheric fungi. Exponent of rabbit infection revealed that 55. 2% and 25% of infected rabbits showed positive pathogenicity and precipitin tests respectively. Positive correlation between proteolytic activities of these fungi and their precipitin test as well as their clinical findings were proved