Inhibitory Effects of Some Plant Essential Oils Against Candida species Isolated from Otomycosis Patients in Zakho City, Iraq

the

Section: Research Article
Issue
Vol. 35 No. 4 (2026): Volume 35, Issue 4
Pages
53-66

Abstract

Otomycosis is an inflammatory lesion caused by the invasion or the excessive propagation of pathogenic fungi in the external auditory canal, accounting for 10 to 20% of recurring ear infections. Our study was conducted to identify Candida species in patients with otomycosis using conventional methods and HiCrome Candida agar, as well as to evaluate the antifungal activity of certain essential oils. A total of 300 ear swab samples, 136 from males and 164 from females, were obtained from patients who attended the otolaryngology department at Bedar Teaching Hospital and outpatients in Zakho city between July and December 2025. All data regarding age, sex, occupation, presenting complaints, and type of debris were collected. These samples were collected by an otolaryngologist from patients of various ages and both genders who exhibited clinical features suggestive of otomycosis. Ear debris was collected by sterile swabs and transferred to the laboratory for direct microscopy using 10% KOH, and cultures were grown on (SDA) at 37°C for 48 h, after which purified colonies of Candida were cultured on HiCrome agar. Our results revealed that otomycosis was more common among patients aged 31 to 45 years; 48 (48%) were male, and 52 (52%) were female.   The main complaints were itching, followed by otalgia. Culture result revealed 100 positives for Candida sp. out of 300 samples. Among these positive samples, Candida krusei 45 (45%), C.glabrata 38 (38%), C. albicans 12 (12%), and C. tropicalis 5 (5%), all C.albicans show positive for germ tube and chlamydospore formation. Clotrimazole and pumpkin oil showed the highest antifungal activity against pathogenic Candida spp. among the tested agents.

Keywords:

: CHROMagar Candida (CA), fungal otitis externa, conventional medium, Candida species

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Authors

Shukran Abdulla Mohammed

Medical Laboratory Department, College of Health Sciences, University of ,Duhok, Iraq

Asia Saadullah

Biology Department, College of Sciences, University of Duhok, Iraq

Identifiers

DOI: 10.33899/jes.v35i4.61933

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[1]
“the Inhibitory Effects of Some Plant Essential Oils Against Candida species Isolated from Otomycosis Patients in Zakho City, Iraq: the”, JES, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 53–66, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.33899/jes.v35i4.61933.
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How to Cite

[1]
“the Inhibitory Effects of Some Plant Essential Oils Against Candida species Isolated from Otomycosis Patients in Zakho City, Iraq: the”, JES, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 53–66, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.33899/jes.v35i4.61933.