Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Medical Journal of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences 2783-2031 46 4 2024 10 09 Molecular Identification of Fungal Species Isolated from the External Surfaces of Ants Caught from Educational Hospitals in Babol City (2021-2022) 443 452 10.34172/mj.2024.046 EN Fatemeh Zamani https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2275-475X Jalal Jafarzade https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5626-5150 Ali Heidarpour Mojtaba Taghizadeh Armaki https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1811-5829 Firoozeh kermani https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8200-1346 Mohsen karami https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5577-2639 Journal Article 10.34172/mj.2024.046 2023 08 09 2023 11 25 Background. Since the ants play a key role in transmitting microorganisms, it is important to identify the fungal species isolated from the external surfaces of ants caught from hospitals. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the fungal species isolated from the external surfaces of ants caught from Babol hospitals. Methods. Ants were collected by trapping inside sterile tubes and were washed with normal saline for 20 seconds. Then, 100 µL of the resulting solution was cultured in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) medium and incubated for one week at 35C°. Macroscopic, microscopic, and RFLP-PCR molecular techniques were employed to confirm the grown isolates. Results. A total of 79 fungal isolates including 47 isolates of hyaline fungi (59.49%) and 32 isolates of black fungi (40.51%) were obtained from 63 captured ants. Out of 47 cultured fungi, 15 fungi (31.91%) were Aspergillus niger and 15 (31.91%) were A. flavus, 12 (25.53%) were A. fumigatus and 5 isolates were Penicillium (10.63%). Conclusion. Taking into account the increasing number of immunocompromised patients, outbreak of COVID-19 in recent years, and numerous reports about the invasive fungal diseases among COVID-19 patients, it was found necessary to control the ants as carriers of these organisms. Practical Implications. It was necessary to control these insects effectively in order to prevent the increasing prevalence of the fungal diseases among the hospitalized people.