Investigation on Fungal Isolates of Normal Conjunctival Sac in the Turkmen (Yamud) Horse

This study was conducted to identify fungi isolated from conjunctival sac of the clinically healthy Yamud horse and determine effect of host sex and age on isolates. A total of 50 swabs were taken from the inferior conjunctival sac of 25 horses without clinical signs of ocular diseases. The animals were selected from two sexes and divided into two age groups. The samples were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol، and incubated at 25 ° C for 21 days. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Kendall’s tau correlation tests using SPSS 21. Collectively، 11 different fungal species from 8 fungal genera were identified in 25 (100%) horses and 44 (88%) eyes. The isolates in order of frequency were Aspergillus spp. (40. 74%)، Alternaria spp. (20. 37%)، Cladosporium spp. (12. 96%)، Mucor spp. (11. 11%)، Penicillium spp. (5. 56%)، Pseudallescheria spp. (4. 03%)، Candida spp. (3. 70%)، and Microsporum spp. (1. 85%). There was significant effect of horse sex and age on isolation rates of fungi (P< 0. 05). A significant reverse correlation was found between the horse age and number of isolates (r = -0. 517; P = 0. 005). The fungal species isolated are comparable with similar studies performed on horses in other areas.