The distribution of keratinophilic fungi in soils from New Zealand,and from two polynesian Islands

Summary (1) A total of 312 soils, 271 from New Zealand, 24 from Rarotonga, Cook Islands and 17 from Tokelau Islands was examined by the hair-baiting technique.(2)Microsporon gypseum was isolated from 1.5% of New Zealand soils and from 36.6% of Pacific Island soils. The difference in incidence in the two areas is significant.(3)Keratinomyces ajelloi andMicrosporon cookei were recovered from 52.8% and 7.7% of New Zealand soils respectively but neither species was isolated from the Island samples.K. ajelloi was found to be significantly associated with strongly acid soils, andM. cookei with a farmyard substrate.(4)Trichophyton terrestre was isolated from 1.1% of New Zealand and from 12.2% of Pacific Island soils. Two strains ofChrysosporium keratinophilum were isolated from New Zealand soils and an unidentifiedChrysosporium from one Rarotongan sample.(5) The distribution of the different species is discussed and compared with those reported in surveys carried out in other countries of the Southern Hemisphere. The effects of ambient temperature, and source and pH of the soil, on the distribution of keratinophilic fungi are considered, but there is insufficient detailed evidence to determine the importance of these factors in the ecology of these organisms.