Research in Medicine

_fBackground: Due to increasing of human knowledge conserning control, treatment, prevention and eradication of fungal diseases, people with fungal diseases such as dermatophytosis in humans and animals have shown that the disease is still one of the most important health issues in Iran and the world. Pollution of hot springs pools to dermatophyte and saprophytic fungi can increase the risk of natives and tourists to related diseases. This research was performed about fungal flora of Mazandaran hot springs for the first time in autumn 1394.

Method and Methods: In this cross-sectional study,  22 hot springs  were surveyed.  Three samples  of water in 250 ml sterile containers  were collected and transferred to the laboratory of  shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Then, according to colony morphology and microscopic characteristic of fungi ,the presence of saprophytic fungi and dermatophytes were studied.

Result: Out of 66 collected water samples from hot springs in Mazandaran province, the 19 samples (78/28%) and 17 springs from 22 hot springs were positive for the presence of saprophytic fungi. The most common fungi were Aspergillus niger, Penicillium and Cladosporium respectively. In this study, no dermatophyte fungi were isolated.

Conclusion: It seems that fungal contamination of hot springs in the Mazandaran province is substantial for locals, tourists and travelers who have used these hot springs. Therefore, experimental studies are essential to reduce the pollution of fungal diseases in hot springs in our country and Mazandaran province.