Keratinophilic fungi of school playgrounds in the Nablus area,West Bank of Jordan

The distribution of keratinophilic fungi in the soil of 57 school playgrounds in the Nablus area was studied with relation to human presence. A total number of 73 species was recovered. Thirteen of these species were dermatophytes and closely related fungi. The most common and frequent species of the latter fungi were: Arthroderma cuniculi (found in 32.1% of school playgrounds), Chrysosporium keratinophilum (32.1%), Microsporum gypseum (10.7%), T. terrestre (7.1%), and C. asperatum (7.1%). Twenty eight of the isolated species had been reported to be pathogenic; these comprised 64.3% of the keratinophilic mycoflora of school playgrounds.     

Colonization of wounded peanut seeds by soil fungi: selectivity for species from Aspergillus section Flavi

Soil is a source of primary inoculum for Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, fungi that produce highly carcinogenic aflatoxins in peanuts. Aflatoxigenic fungi commonly invade peanut seeds during maturation, and the highest concentrations of aflatoxins are found in damaged seeds. A laboratory procedure was developed in which viable peanut seeds were wounded and inoculated with field soil containing natural populations of fungi, then incubated under different conditions of seed water activity and temperature. Densities of Aspergillus section Flavi in soil used for inoculating seeds were low relative to the total numbers of filamentous fungi (<1%). Aspergillus species from section Flavi present in soil included A. flavus morphotypes L and S strains, A. parasiticus, A. caelatus, A. tamarii and A. alliaceus. Wounding was required for high incidences of fungal colonization; viability of wounded seeds had little effect on colonization by Aspergillus species. Peanut seeds were colonized by section Flavi species as well as A. niger over broad ranges of water activity (0.82-0.98) and temperature (15-37 C), and the highest incidences of seed colonization occurred at water activities of 0.92-0.96 at 22-37 C. A. parasiticus colonized peanut seeds at lower temperatures than A. flavus, and cool soil temperatures relative to temperatures of aerial crop fruits might explain why A. parasiticus is found mostly in peanuts. Other fungi, dominated by the genera Penicillium, Fusarium and Clonostachys, colonized seeds primarily at water activities and temperatures suboptimal for section Flavi species and A. niger. Eupenicillium ochrosalmoneum frequently sporulated on the conidial heads of section Flavi species and showed specificity for these fungi. The inoculation of wounded viable peanut seeds with soil containing natural populations of fungi provides a model system for studying the infection process, the interactions among fungi and those factors important in aflatoxin formation.     

Ecology of pathogenic yeasts in Amazonian soil

In an investigation of Amazonian soil as a natural reservoir for pathogenic fungi, 1,949 soil samples collected from diverse geographical and ecological settings of the Brazilian Amazon Basin were analyzed for the presence of non-keratinophilic fungi by the indirect mouse inoculation procedure and for the presence of keratinophilic fungi by the hair bait technique. All soil samples were acidic with low pH values. From 12% of the soil samples, 241 yeast and yeastlike isolates pertaining to six genera and 82 species were recovered, of which 63% were Torulopsis and 26% were Candida species. Nine fungi with known pathogenic potentials were encountered among 43% (104) of the isolates: T. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. albicans, C. pseudotropicalis, C. stellatoidea, C. tropicalis, Rhodotorula rubra, and Wangiella dermatitidis. The yeast flora was marked by species diversity, low frequency of each species, random geographical distribution, and an apparent lack of species clustering. The composition and distribution of the yeast flora in soil differed from those of the yeast flora harbored by bats, suggesting that the Amazonian external environment and internal bat organs act as independent natural habitats for yeasts.     

Ecology of pathogenic yeasts in Amazonian soil.

In an investigation of Amazonian soil as a natural reservoir for pathogenic fungi, 1,949 soil samples collected from diverse geographical and ecological settings of the Brazilian Amazon Basin were analyzed for the presence of non-keratinophilic fungi by the indirect mouse inoculation procedure and for the presence of keratinophilic fungi by the hair bait technique. All soil samples were acidic with low pH values. From 12% of the soil samples, 241 yeast and yeastlike isolates pertaining to six genera and 82 species were recovered, of which 63% were Torulopsis and 26% were Candida species. Nine fungi with known pathogenic potentials were encountered among 43% (104) of the isolates: T. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. albicans, C. pseudotropicalis, C. stellatoidea, C. tropicalis, Rhodotorula rubra, and Wangiella dermatitidis. The yeast flora was marked by species diversity, low frequency of each species, random geographical distribution, and an apparent lack of species clustering. The composition and distribution of the yeast flora in soil differed from those of the yeast flora harbored by bats, suggesting that the Amazonian external environment and internal bat organs act as independent natural habitats for yeasts.     

Selection of appropriate host plants used in trap culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in coalmine spoil, island forest and saline soils were enriched in pot culture with maize (Zea mays L.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), white clover (Trifolium repens Linn.) and silverweed cinquefoil (Potentilla anserina L.). Based on spores, there were more species of AM fungi in the coalmine spoil (15 species, 3 genera), than in the forest soil (11 species, 4 genera) and the saline soil (5 species, 2 genera). In the trap cultures, the total of 28 species in Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Glomus, and Sclerocystis detected in the original soils were all recovered with at least one of the four trap plants. The highest spore and species numbers were recovered in trap cultures of T. repens inoculated with coalmine spoil. Glomus constrictum and Glomus multicaule were the dominant species associated with N. tabacum grown in saline soil and forest soil. The dominant species of AM fungi on the four hosts was Acaulospora mellea, which had over 90% of the spore incidence in pot trap culture in coalmine spoil. It is suggested that there be selectivity between host plants and AM fungi. The number of species of AM fungi detected was influenced by host plants under certain conditions and white clover was generally the optimal host plant to detect diversity of AM fungi.     

Halomonas alkalitolerans sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacteriun isolated from soda meadow saline soil in Daqing, China

A moderately halophilic bacterial strain 15-13(T), which was isolated from soda meadow saline soil in Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province, China, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The cells of strain 15-13 were found to be Gram-negative, rod-shaped, and motile. The required growth conditions for strain 15-13(T) were: 1-23% NaCl (optimum, 7%), 10-50°C (optimum, 35°C), and pH 7.0-11.0 (optimum, pH 9.5). The predominant cellular fatty acids were C(18:1) ω7c (60.48%) and C(16:0) (13.96%). The DNA G+C content was 67.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons indicated that strain 15-13(T) clustered within a branch comprising species of the genus Halomonas. The closest phylogenetic neighbor of strain 15-13(T) was Halomonas pantelleriensis DSM 9661(T) (98.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The level of DNA-DNA relatedness between the novel isolated strain and H pantelleriensis DSM 9661(T) was 33.8%. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain 15-13(T) represents a novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas alkalitolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain for this novel species is 15-13(T) (=CGMCC 1.9129(T) =NBRC 106539(T)).     

A ten years survey of Romanian soil screening for keratinophilic fungi (1958–1967)

Summary Out of 750 soil samples collected from various regions of Romania, during 1958–1967, a positive percentage of 86 was positive for keratinophilic fungi. Among the 13 isolated species, the most prevalent wereM. gypseum (54.6 %),C. keratinophilum (40.1 %) andK. (T.)ajelloi (27 %). BesideT. terrestre, found in 8.9 % of the examined soil samples, the percentage of the remaining species is low, not exceeding 4 %. In order of frequency:C. (T).evolceanui (3.2 %),M. cookei (2.2 %),T. mentagrophytes (2 %),T. quinckeanum (0.9 %),C. (T.)indicum (0.6 %). There have been also isolated, but only once;M. canis, A. multifidum, T. georgiae andT. vanbreuseghemii.The studies carried out on the immunobiological properties of the Romanian soil isolates (including intracutaneous tests, serological reactions and therapeutic efficiency), have showed a close relationship between these fungi and the common pathogenic dermatophytes. The pathogenic power of the keratinophilic fungi is briefly discussed.     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from children's sandpits in the Nablus area,West Bank of Jordan

The keratinophilic fungi of 29 sandpits from kindergarten schools and public parks in the city of Nablus was analysed to evaluate their role in the epidemiology of diseases caused by these fungi. Seventy two species were recovered 28 of which were common to both kindergartens and public parks sandpits. High percentage (57.4%) of fungal isolates found had been identified as the causes of various types of mycoses. Eight species of dermatophytes and closely related fungi were recovered, of which the followings were the most commonly found species in sandpits: Chrysosporium keratinophilum (20.7%), Microsporum gypseum (17.2%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (6.9%), and C. evolceanui (6.9%).     

The influence of detergents and active components of detergent on bioproduction of organic matters and enzymatic activity of some species of fungi.

Detergent (Merix, "Merima " Krusevac) applied in concentration of 1% vol. showed specific influence on the bioproduction of some 15 different amino acids and on the enzyme activity of the species of fungi A. niger, A. alternata and T. roseum. Detergent has significantly stimulated the production of 15 analyzed amino acids of the fungi species A. niger. The same applied concentration of detergent has decreased or considerably decreased the production of some 14 of totally 15 analyzed amino acids of investigated fungi species A. alternata and T. roseum. The enzyme activity of the fungi A. niger was more intensive in relation to the species A. alternata and T. roseum during the experimental period or in some phases of the experimental period. The detergent component, ethoxyled oleyl-cetyl alcohol, in concentration of 0.01%, 0.1% and 1% showed an inhibitory effect, or significant inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity of the examined species of fungi (A. niger, A. alternata and T. roseum).     

Incidence of keratinophilic fungi from selected soils of Kerala state (India)

One hundred and fifty-eight soil samples were collected from various areas of four districts of Kerala and screened for prevalence of keratinophilic fungi and related dermatophytes. From the positive samples (60.75%), a total of eight genera with 15 species were isolated viz., Arthroderma simii (0.63%), Chrysosporium indicum (20.25%), C. keratinophilum (6.96%). C. lobatum (1.26%), C. pannicola (1.26%), C. tropicum (5.06%), Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma cuniculi (1.26%), Chrysosporium state of Ctenomyces serratus (2.53%), Gymnascella hyalinospora (1.26%), Malbranchea aurantiaca (0.63%) M. fulva (1.26%), Microsporum gypseum complex (12.65%), Pseudogymnoascus roseus (1.26%), Trichophyton mentragrophytes (1.26%), and T. terrestre (3.16%).     

Effects of nutrient and soil moisture on competition between shape Carex stricta,shape Phalaris arundinacea,and shape Typha latifolia

We investigated the importance of nutrients, soil moisture, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and interspecific competition levels on the biomass allocation patterns of three wetland perennial plant species, Carex stricta Lam., Phalaris arundinacea L., and Typha latifolia L. A factorial experiment was conducted with high-low nutrient levels, high-low soil moisture levels, and with and without AMF inoculation. Under the experimental conditions, plant inoculation by AMF was too low to create a treatment and the AMF treatment was dropped from the total analysis. P. arundinacea and T. latifolia biomass were 73% and 77% higher, respectively, in the high nutrient treatment compared to the low nutrient treatment. Biomass allocation between shoots and roots remained relatively constant between environmental treatments, although shoot:root ratios of P. arundinacea declined in the low nutrient treatment. For C. stricta, the high nutrient and soil moisture treatments resulted in an increase in biomass of 50% and 15%, respectively. Shoot:root ratios were nearly constant among all environmental conditions. Biomass of T. latifolia and C. stricta was greatly decreased when grown with P. arundinacea. The rapid, initial height growth of P. arundinacea produced a spreading, horizontal canopy that overshadowed the vertical leaves of T. latifolia and C. stricta throughout the study. This pattern was repeated in both high and low nutrient and soil moisture treatments. When grown with P. arundinacea, C. stricta and T. latifolia significantly increased their mean shoot height, regardless of the nutrient or soil moisture level. The results of this experiment suggest that C. stricta and T. latifolia were light limited when growing with P. arundinacea and that canopy architecture is more important for biomass allocation than the other environmental conditions tested. The results also suggest that Phalaris arundinacea is an inherently better competitor (sensu Grime 1979) than C. stricta or T. latifolia.     

Interactive effects of defoliation and an AM fungus on plants and soil organisms in experimental legume–grass communities

We established a 13‐week greenhouse experiment based on replicated microcosms to test whether the effects of defoliation on grassland plants and soil organisms depend on plant species composition and the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The experiment constituted of three treatment factors – plant species composition, inoculation of an AM fungus and defoliation – in a fully factorial design. Plant species composition had three levels: (1) Trifolium repens monoculture (T), (2) Phleum pratense monoculture (P) and (3) mixture of T. repens and P. pratense (T+P), while the AM inoculation and the defoliation treatment had two levels: (1) no inoculation of AM fungi and (2) inoculation of the AM fungus Glomus claroideum BEG31, and (1) no trimming, and (2) trimming of all plant material to 6 cm above the soil surface three times during the experiment, respectively. At the final harvest, AM colonization rate of plant roots differed between the plant species compositions, being on average 45% in T, 33% in T+P and 4% in P. Defoliation did not affect the colonization rate in T but raised the rate from 1% to 7% in P and from 20% to 45% in T+P. Shoot production and standing shoot and root biomass were 48%, 85% and 68% lower, respectively, in defoliated than in non‐defoliated systems, while the AM fungus did not affect shoot production and root mass but reduced harvested shoot mass by 8% in non‐defoliated systems. Of the plant quality attributes, defoliation enhanced the N concentration of harvested shoot biomass by 129% and 96% in P and T+P, respectively, but had no effect in T, while the C concentration of shoot biomass was on average 2.7% lower in defoliated than in non‐defoliated systems. Moreover, defoliation reduced shoot C yield (the combined C content of defoliated and harvested shoot biomass) on average by 47% across all plant species compositions and shoot N yield by 37% in T only. In contrast to defoliation, the AM fungus did not affect shoot N and C concentrations or shoot N yield, but induced 10% lower C yield in non‐defoliated systems and 17% higher C yield in defoliated T. In roots, defoliation led to 56% and 21% higher N concentration in P and T+P, respectively, and 28% higher C concentration in P, while the mycorrhizal fungus lowered root N concentration by 9.7% in defoliated systems and had no effect on root C concentrations. In the soil, the nematode community was dominated by bacterivores and the other trophic groups were found in a few microcosms only. Bacterivores were 45% more abundant in defoliated than in non‐defoliated systems, but were not affected by plant species composition or the AM fungus. Soil inorganic N concentration was significantly increased by defoliation in T+P, while the mycorrhizal fungus reduced NH₄–N concentration by 40% in T. The results show that defoliation had widespread effects in our experimental systems, and while the effects on plant growth were invariably negative and those on bacterivorous nematodes invariably positive, most effects on plant C and N content and soil inorganic N concentration varied depending on the plant species present. In contrast, the effects of defoliation did not depend on the presence of the AM fungus, which suggests that while the relative abundance of legumes and grasses is likely to have a significant role in the response of legume–grass communities to defoliation, the role of AM fungi may be less important. In line with this, the AM fungus had only a few significant effects on plant and soil attributes in our systems and each of them was modified by defoliation and/or plant species composition. This suggests that the effects of AM fungi in legume–grass communities may largely depend on the plant species present and whether the plants are grazed or not.     

Development of selective media for the isolation and enumeration of Alternaria species from soil and plant debris

A new semi-selective medium, acidified weak potato-dextrose agar (AWPDA) with Mertect (active ingredient: thiabendazole), was developed for the isolation and enumeration of Alternaria species from samples of soil and plant debris. The medium was selected based on growth inhibition tests against Alternaria and several other commonly encountered saprobic fungi utilizing three antifungal agents, Botran (active ingredient: dichloran), Bayleton (active ingredient: triadimefon), and Mertect, and two basal media, acidified potato-dextrose agar (APDA) and AWPDA. Botran inhibited growth of Rhizopus stolonifer moderately, but had little effect on Cladosporium cladosporoides, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum, or Trichoderma harzianum. Bayleton inhibited growth of R. stolonifer and C. cladosporoides severely, and inhibited growth of F. oxysporum, P. chrysogenum, and T. harzianum moderately. Mertect inhibited growth of C. cladosporoides, F. oxysporum, P. chrysogenum, and T. harzianum completely, but had little or moderate effect on R. stolonifer. All three antifungal agents inhibited growth of Alternaria species slightly or moderately. The combination of Bayleton and Mertect inhibited growth of all fungi severely. A comparison of recovery rates of Alternaria from soil and plant debris samples on AWPDA with Mertect and weak potato-dextrose agar (WPDA) revealed that Alternaria spp. accounted for 63.6%-81.0% of recovered fungal isolates on AWPDA with Mertect as compared to 0.6%-2.7% of recovered isolates on WPDA. The AWPDA medium with Mertect exhibited superior selective growth of Alternaria species from samples of soil and plant debris, and will be useful in studies where the recovery and enumeration of Alternaria species is necessary.     

Occurrence of keratinophilic fungi anddermatophytes on domestic birds in Nigeria

Feathers, nails and beaks of one hundred and twenty common birds in Nigeria, Chicken [50], Ducks [20], Turkeys [15] and Pigeons[35], were examined using the soil plate technique for their mycoflora.15 species of fungi were recovered and they belong to the genera Chrysosporium, Trichophyton, Microsporum, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus, Penicillium and Trichoderma. Microsporum gypseum was the species most frequently isolated (35% of the samples). The most common genus was Chrysosporium and C. keratinophilum was the species with the highest frequency in the genus (28.3%). The species isolated included potential pathogens and mycotoxin producing fungi (Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporum). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from floors in Roman primary schools

Keratinophilic fungi are present in the environment with variable distribution patterns that depend on different factors, one of which, of fundamental importance, is human and or animal presence. The present study was conducted in the environment and classrooms of schools in order to evaluate the relationship between the human presence and the presence of keratinophilic fungi. In order to achieve this goal, a new isolation technique was used. From 20 samples, 253 colonies of keratinophilic fungi were isolated. The results showed that species of the genus Chrysosporium were present in 100% of the samples, while Microsporum and Trichophyton species were present in 40% and 65% of the samples respectively. The percentage of three pathogenic species, M. canis (25), T. mentagrophytes (10) and M. gypseum (10) was significant. The other species isolated were: T. terrestre (55%), Trichophyton sp. (35%), M. cookei (25%) and T. ajelloi (10%). A correlation between the amount of gathered dust and the number of colonies of keratinophilic fungi isolated was not found.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acinetobacter soli</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from forest soil

A non-motile and rod shaped bacterium, designated strain B1(T), was isolated from forest soil at Mt. Baekwoon, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-negative, catalase-positive, and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were 9-octadecenoic acid (C(18:1) omega9c; 42%) and hexadecanoic acid (C(16:0); 25.9%) and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C(15:0) 2-OH and/or C(16:1) omega7c; 10.0%). The DNA G+C content was 44.1 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain B1(T) formed a lineage within the genus Acinetobacter and was closely related to A. baylyi DSM 14961(T) (98.6% sequence similarity), followed by A. baumannii DSM 30007(T) (97.4%), A. calcoaceticus DSM 30006(T) (97.0%) and 3 genomic species (96.8 approximately 7.6%). Phenotypic characteristics, gyrB gene sequence analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness data distinguished strain B1(T) from type strains of A. baylyi, A. baumannii, and A. calcoaceticus. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain B1(T) represents a novel species of the genus Acinetobacter, for which the name Acinetobacter soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1(T) (= KCTC 22184(T)= JCM 15062(T)).     

Survey of keratinophilic fungi isolated from city park soils of Pisa,Italy

A survey of geophilic dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi isolated from city park soils of Pisa is reported. Twenty-three (48%) soil samples out of 48 were positive by hair baiting. The following species were isolated: Microsporum gypseum (39%), Trichophyton ajelloi (31%), Chrysosporium keratinophilum (14%), T. terrestre (8%), M. fulvum, Ch. luteum, Ch. indicum (5% each) and M. cookei (2%). The presence of the different species is discussed in relation to the risk of fungal skin infections. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ecology of cycloheximide-resistant fungi in field soils receiving raw city wastewater or normal irrigation water

The effect of raw city wastewater irrigation on biodiversity and population densities of a cycloheximide-resistant (CH) fungal community was studied in 13 field soils receiving either raw city wastewater or normal irrigation, and in raw city wastewater in the Nablus area, using the hair baiting technique (HBT) and a surface soil dilution plating (SSDP) technique. Three of these fields [one had been receiving raw city wastewater for more than ten years and was designated a heavily polluted field, and the other 2 were cultivated for the first time and were either irrigated with raw city wastewater (newly polluted field) or normal irrigation water (nonpolluted)], were sampled 4–7 times over a 9-month period. The other ten fields, which had been under raw city wastewater irrigation for more than 10 years, were sampled only once. Fifty-seven CH-resistant species belonging to 18 genera were recovered, of which 49 species were recovered from soil habitats and 28 species from raw city wastewater. The HBT had shown to be more efficient in the isolation of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic fungi including dermatophytes. A higher percentage of this group of fungi was recovered from the three main field soils studied using HBT (70% of all isolates), than the SSDP (35.5%); no dermatophytes were recovered by the SSDP method. Two dermatophytes (Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton ajelloi), and five more fungi (Arthroderma cuniculi, A. curreyi, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, C. tropicum, and C. pannorum), were recovered from these habitats. Wastewater irrigation seemed to have affected the fungal population densities, with the highest population densities being found in the heavily polluted field soil, while lower population densities were found in the nonpolluted field soil. Increases in organic matter were also observed as a result of sewage effluent irrigation. However, basic similarities in the biodiversity of CH-resistant fungal communities existed in nonpolluted and polluted field soils, and raw city wastewater. Comparable numbers of fungal species were recovered from the three main field soils. The species most commonly found in those habitats included: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus candidus, Geotrichum candidum, and Paecilomyces lilacinus. Field soils receiving either raw city wastewater or normal irrigation water, were found to be rich in pathogenic and potentially pathogenic CH-resistant fungi, including dermatophytes, with raw city wastewater yielding the highest percentage (81%), followed by the newly wastewater irrigated field (77.7%), the nonpolluted field (67%), and the heavily polluted field (63.4%). Hygienic measures should therefore be taken to control the spread of these fungi in the environment of human communities, and to avoid mycotic infections among farmers. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification, phylogenetic analysis and characterization of obligate halophilic fungi isolated from a man-made solar saltern in Phetchaburi province, Thailand

A total of 17 species from 43 isolates were obtained through serial dilutions of soil samples isolated from one of the man-made solar salterns located in Ban Laem district of Phetchaburi province, Thailand. Soil analysis of the sample revealed high salinity and moisture content, slight alkalinity and low amounts of nitrogen, total organic carbon and organic matter in the habitat. Morphological analysis was performed on all isolates, and molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis were carried out only on the halophilic fungi isolated. Six halophilic fungi, belonging to four species, were identified among the isolates, including five strains of Aspergillus genus [Aspergillus flavus, A. gracilis, A. penicillioides (2 strains) and A. restrictus]. One species was found to be a yeast, namely, Sterigmatomyces halophilus, which was the most frequent isolate found among the halophilic fungi. All other isolates were halotolerant fungi. Characterization of the halophilic fungal isolates showed that they were best adapted to conditions of 10–15 % NaCl (w/v), slight alkalinity (pH 7.0–7.5) and a temperature range of 30–35 °C.     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from soil of the Abruzzo National Park,Italy

One hundred sixty one soil samples from the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo were analyzed. The keratinophilic fungi present in the soil samples were isolated and classified with the hair-bait method. The most common was T. ajelloi (28.6% of the total samples) followed by Chrysosporium keratinophilum (14.3%), C. sp. (11.2%), C. asperatum and Trichophyton sp. (6.8%), T. terrestre (5.6%), C. pannorum and C. state of Ctenomyces serratus (3.7%), C. tropicum (3.1%), M. cookei (2.5%) and the C. state of Arthroderma tuberculatum (1.9%). Other species, not belonging to the dermatophytes, were also isolated. The absence of dermatophytes was correlated with low human and animal population density.Altitude and vegetation did not seem to influence their distribution.