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%).This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Keratinophilic fungi from Orissa, India, II: Isolations from feathers of wild birds and domestic fowls

Feather samples from 117 birds, representing 11 species, were examined for keratinophilic fungi. Of these, 63 (53.8%) were found to be positive. Nine species of fungi classified in 6 genera were isolated: Aphanoascus terreus (1.7%), Chrysosporium indicum (26.4%), Chrys. tropicum (11.1%) the Chrysosporium state of Aphanoascus spp. (2.5%), the Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum (3.4%), Ctenomyces serratus (0.8%), Gymnoascoideus petalosporus (7.6%), Malbranchea spp. (6.8%), Rollandina hyalinospora (6.8%). Passer domesticus (the house sparrow) harboured the largest varieties of keratinophilic fungi: the Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum was found to be associated with it selectively. The associations of these keratinophilic fungi with birds were non-clinical in nature.     

Taxonomic study of keratinophilic fungi isolated from soil and some mammals in France

In France, most of the researches have showed the distribution of dermatophytes and other keratinophilic fungi in the soil and in the coat of wild mammals. During these last years, we have also practiced numerous investigations about the distribution of such fungi. The isolated species are: Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton terrestre, Trichophyton ajelloï, Trichophyton simii, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum cookei, Microsporum nanum, Microsporum persicolor, Anixiopsis stercoraria, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma curreyi, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma cuniculi, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma multifidum, Ctenomycès serratus, Chrysosporium parvum, Chrysosporium indicum, Chrysosporium georgii, Chrysosporium merdarium, Chrysosporium asperatum, Chrysosporium pannorum.A key to these species is proposed: it attempts to provide an aid in identifying geophilic dermatophytes and related fungi (belonging to the Chrysosporium genus).     

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.     

Keratinophilic fungi of poultry farm and feather dumping soil in Tamil Nadu,India

Soils of 10 poultry farms from Namakkal and 12 feather dumping sites from Chennai were studied for the presence of keratinophilic fungi. A total of 34 species belonging to 19 genera and one non-sporulating fungus were recovered. Sixteen species of fungi and one non-sporulating fungi were common to both sites, eight species were specific to Namakkal and nine species were specific to Chennai. Dermatophytes and closely related fungi were represented by six species belonging to five genera. Fungal species commonly found in the soil samples included Chrysosporium keratinophilum (73%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (68.2%), Microsporum gypseum (64%), Myceliopthora vellerea (32%), Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum (27.3%) and Geomyces pannorum (23%). Non-dermatophyte fungi were represented by 28 species belonging to 14 genera and one non-sporulating fungus.     

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.     

Incidence of Keratinophilic Fungi from the Selected Soils of Kaziranga National Park,Assam (India)

Seventy-eight soil samples were collected from the various locations in the vicinity of Kaziranga National Park (Assam), India, during April to October 2009 and screened for the presence of keratinophilic fungi using the hair baiting techniques for isolation. Thirty-nine isolates were recovered and identified by recognition of their macro- and micromorphological features. Their identification was also confirmed by the BLAST search of sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region against the NCBI/GenBank data and compared with deposited sequences for identification purpose. Eleven species related to seven genera were recorded viz. Aphanoascus durus (1.28%), Arthroderma tuberculatum (3.84%), Arthroderma corniculatum (1.28%), Chrysosporium indicum (16.66%), C. tropicum (3.84%), Ctenomyces serratus (5.12%), Keratinophyton punsolae (1.28%), Microsporum appendiculatum (1.28%), Microsporum gypseum complex (11.53%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (11.28%) and T. terrestre (2.56%).     

Isolation of keratomycetes from the soil of wild animal cages and enclosures in the zoo of the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Italy

The keratinophilic fungi present in the soil of wild animal cages and enclosures in the zoo of the "Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo", at Pescasseroli, Italy were studied. The goal of the investigation was to determine what species of such fungi existed in wild animal habitats in that area and what variation there may be in their frequency in connection with the seasons. The most prevalent fungus was Trichophyton ajelloi, followed in decreasing order by the Chrysosporium species (C. keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. state of Ctenomyces serratus). The Microsporums were relatively rare. The perfect forms Arthroderma uncinatum, A. quadrifidum, Nannizzia cajetani and Ctenomyces serratus were isolated from plates containing their corresponding imperfect forms. The recurrence of the species present in the soil of each cage and enclosure in April and in July was remarkable.     

Isolation of Dermatophytes and other Keratinophilic Fungi from the Vicinity of Salt Pan Soils of Mumbai,India

Soil samples from twenty salt pans and their vicinity around Mumbai and Thane were screened for the occurrence of keratinophilic fungi and related dermatophytes. Ten species classified in six genera were recovered using horse hair as bait. The isolated species were reported in the following order of dominance: Chrysosporium indicum (12.0%), Microsporum gypseum complex (7.2%), C. tropicum (5.6%), C. state of Ctenomyces serratus (4.0%), Trichophyton terrestre (3.2%), Malbranchea aurantiaca (2.4%), C. fluviale (1.6%), Uncinocarpus reesii (1.6%), Malbranchea sp. (0.8%), and T. mentagrophytes (0.8%).     

Secretion of keratinolytic enzymes and keratinolysis by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes: regression analysis

A survey on keratinophilic fungi from poultry-farm soils at Namakkal and from feather dumping soils at Chennai, India, revealed the existence of 34 species of fungi. Most of the fungi exhibited variable efficiency in producing extracellular keratinase when grown in plates with chicken feathers as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. The fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus versicolor, Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum, Paecilomyces carneus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Trichoderma viride, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes were efficient candidates to degrade the feathers. However, when cultivating the strains in submerged conditions in a medium containing chicken feathers as the sole nutrients source, Aspergillus glaucus, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium citrinum also proved to be potent. Among all species, S. brevicaulis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes produced higher amounts of keratinase in both methods. Conditions for keratinase production were optimized by statistical design and surface plots. The highest keratinase activity was estimated by S. brevicaulis (3.2 KU/mL) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (2.7 KU/mL) in the culture medium with chicken feathers and shows (79% and 72.2% of degrading ability, respectively).     

Keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi in the soils of Papua New Guinea

A study was made of soil samples collected during an expedition to the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Fungi were isolated from the samples by the method of hair baiting (To-Ka-Va). Of the 33 species isolated, about half showed keratinolytic activity. Such activity is previously unreported for Mucor hiemalis f. hiemalis, Myrothecium roridum, Paecilomyces carneus, P. marquandii, Penicillium brevicompactum, Rhinocladiella mansonii and Verticillium lecanii. The species most active keratinolytically were Chrysosporium an. Arthroderma cuniculi, C. an. A. curreyi, C. indicum, Myceliophthora vellerea and Trichophyton ajelloi. The spectrum of fungi with keratinolytic activity isolated from the different sites differed considerably according to the frequency of use by man, heaviest use being correlated with greatest activity. The pH of the soil (varying from 5.8–7.5) had little influence on the type of such fungi isolated.     

Mycoflora of camel and goat hairs from Al-Arish,Egypt

The frequency of occurrence of fungi in 120 hair samples of camel and goat from four different localities of Al-Arish governorate was determined.Twenty-six genera and 54 species were collected from the two substrates and the most common genera were Chrysosporium and Aspergillus, followed by Cladosporium. From the preceding genera Chrysosporium keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. indicum, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger and Cladosporium cladosporioides. Also, other keratinophilic fungi were isolated such as C. luteum, C. pannorum, C. parvum, C. dermatitidis, C. inops, Arthroderma tuberculatum, Histoplasma capsulatum and Myceliophthora vellerea.     

Wool-colonizing micro-organisms capable of utilizing wool-lipids and fatty acids as sole sources of carbon and energy

Two keratinolytic fungi, Chrysosporium keratinophilum and Malbranchea anamorph of Uncinocarpus reesii, and another three wool-colonizing fungi not previously reported to be keratinolytic, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. Flavus and Scopulariopsis candida, were isolated from soil samples baited with animal wool. These fungi were tested for their ability to utilize wool-lipids as sole source of carbon and energy. The lipid contents of wool of various animals ranged between 2 and 5%. The different lipid extracts were similar in composition; they contained steryl esters, sterols, fatty acids, fatty alcohols and monoacylglycerols. The predominant acyl moiety in wool-lipids of different animals was linolenic acid (18:2). The five fungi tested grew well on an inorganic medium supplemented with total wool-lipids as sole sources of carbon and energy. Individual lipid classes fractionated by preparative thin layer chromatography and suspended into inorganic medium were able to support fungal growth as sole carbon sources. These fungi and another eight wool-colonizing strains, C. tropicum, C. zonatrum, C. anamorph of Arthroderma curryei, Microsporum canis, M. distortum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Emmonsia parva and Myceliophthora vellerae could also utilize standard lipids and fatty acids (cholesterol and palmitic and linoleic acids). Evidence fo the uptake and degradation of cholesterol by C. keratinophilum is presented.     

Keratinophilic fungi from the vicinity of meteorite crater soils of Lonar (India)

Thirty-two soil samples were collected from six sites in the vicinity of Lonar lake, a meteorite crater and screened for presence of keratinophilic fungi using hair baiting techniques for isolation. Seventeen isolates were recovered and identified. The cultures were identified by recognition of their macro- and micromorphological features. Their identification was also confirmed by the BLAST search of sequences of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region against the NCBI/Gene bank data and compared with deposited sequences for identification purpose. Seven species of four genera were isolated viz. Aphanoascus durus (9.38%), Aphanoascus punsolae (3.125%), Auxarthron kuehnii (3.125%), Chrysosporium indicum (25.00%), Chrysosporium tropicum (3.125%), Chrysosporium sp. (3.125%), Chrysosporium state of Ctenomyces serratus (6.25%).     

Keratinophilic fungi from soil of Tarragona,Catalunya

97 soils samples of Tarragona city and outskirts were analysed. We were isolated the following keratinophilic fungi: Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton ajelloi, Ctenomyces serratus, Malbranchea state of C. uncinatus, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium evolceanui, Chrysosporium asperatum, Chrysosporium pruinosum (?), Auxarthron thaxteri, Gymnoascus petalosporus, Gymnoascus reesii, Chaetomium murorum, Chaetomium spirale and Chaetomium sp. On explaine the distribution of different isolated species.     

Pathogenicity of some chrysosporium species isolated in France

In order to appreciate the pathogenicity of several geophilic Chrysosporium species (including Anixiopsis stercoraria, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. pannorum, C. state of Arthroderma curreyi, C. state of A. multifidum, and C. state of A. tuberculatum), the authors have realized two series of experimental infestations. Inoculation of these fungi on the back of guinea pigs produced rare erythematous scaling lesions which spontaneously disappeared 3–5 weeks later. No real hair invasion was observed. In white mice, eight weeks after intraperitoneal inoculation, granulomas with necrotic center were observed in the peritoneal tissue with C. keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. state of A. curreyi and C. state of A. tuberculatum. Conidia were often intact in necrotic centers and retrocultures were positive. With C. state of A. curreyi, spherical spores associated with rare budding cells were noted. The pathogenic role of these keratinophilic fungi is uncertain. However, their ability to remain viable for several weeks in skin and peritoneal tissue indicates that they could become pathogen in certain circumstances.This paper was presented at the X^th congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology at Barcelona, Spain from June 27 to July 1, 1988.     

Keratinophilic fungi on sheep hairs from the West Bank of Jordan

The mycoflora of the hair in 285 sheep from the West Bank of Jordan was analysed and the frequency of occurrence and the relative importance value for different fungal species found were calculated. Ninenty six species which belong to 36 genera were isolated. Forty one of these species were either well-known agents of animal and human mycoses (Trichophyton verrucosum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum nanum, M. canis, and others), or have been isolated from human and animal lesions (Arthroderma cuniculi, A. curreyi, Chrysosporium tropicum, Acremonium kiliense, Aphanoascus fulvuscens, Aspergillus versicolor, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, and others). These pathogenic fungi comprised 75.4% of all fungi recovered from the hair of sheep. This animal seems to represent an adequate reservoir for several dermatophytes and several potentially pathogenic fungi.     

Wool-colonizing micro-organisms capable of utilizing wool-lipids and fatty acids as sole sources of carbon and energy

A l M usallam , A.A. & R adwan , S.S. 1990. Wool-colonizing micro-organisms capable of utilizing wool-lipids and fatty acids as sole sources of carbon and energy. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 69 , 806–813.
Two keratinolytic fungi, Chrysosporium keratinophilum and Malbranchea anamorph of Uncinocarpus reesii , and another three wool-colonizing fungi not previously reported to be keratinolytic, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus and Scopulariopsis Candida , were isolated from soil samples baited with animal wool. These fungi were tested for their ability to utilize wool-lipids as sole source of carbon and energy. The lipid contents of wool of various animals ranged between 2 and 5%. The different lipid extracts were similar in composition; they contained steryl esters, sterols, fatty acids, fatty alcohols and monoacylglycerols. The predominant acyl moiety in wool-lipids of different animals was linolenic acid (18:2). The five fungi tested grew well on an inorganic medium supplemented with total wool-lipids as sole sources of carbon and energy. Individual lipid classes fractionated by preparative thin layer chromatography and suspended into inorganic medium were able to support fungal growth as sole carbon sources. These fungi and another eight wool-colonizing strains. C. tropicum, C. zonatum, C . anamorph of Arthroderma curryei, Microsporum cams, M. distortum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Emmonsia parva and Myceliophthora vellerae could also utilize standard lipids and fatty acids (cholesterol and palmitic and linoleic acids)- Evidence for the uptake and degradation of chloesterol by C. keratmophilum is presented.     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from soils of Mumbai,India

Eighty-seven soil samples were collected from various areas of Mumbai and its vicinity to determine the prevalence of keratinophilic fungi. From the 55 positive samples (63.21%), a total of four genera with nine species were isolated viz. Chrysosporium indicum (28.73%),C. lobatum (2.29 %), C. sp.I (1.14%), C. sp. II (1.14%),C. tropicum (1.14%),C. zonatum (2.29%),Ctenomyces serratus (2.29%) Malbranchea aurantiaca (2.29%) and Microsporum gypseum complex (21.83%). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Untersuchungen zur Frage der Biologischen Regulation des Wachstums und der Verbreitung der Geophilen Dermatophyten im Erdboden

Zusammenfassung 1. Aus 200 verschiedenen Stellen eines Wiesengebietes mit dem Ausmaß von 10×100 m waren 600 Bodenproben untersucht worden. In 367 Proben (61,1%) wurde der NematodeDiploscapter coronata festgestellt.2. Der NematodeD. coronata verbraucht die vegetativen Teile der im Boden lebenden keratinophilen PilzeKeratinomyces ajelloi, Trichophyton terrestre, Arthroderma tuberculatum undChrysosporium sp. Dies verläuft auch in unsterilen Bodenproben. In denen, wo das Vorkommen desD. coronata besonders stark war, verhinderte er das Wachstum der Dermatophyten auch dann, wenn in die Bodenproben weitere sterile Haare zugegeben wurden.3. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die Mikrofauna des Bodens grundsätzlich die Verbreitung der keratinophilen Pilze auch in unsterilen Bodenproben regulieren kann.

---

Summary 1. 600 soil samples from 200 different spots of one meadow covering the area 10 by 100 m were examined. In 367 samples (61.1%) the nematodeDiploscapter coronata was found.2. The nematodeDiploscapter coronata consumes the vegetative parts of the keratinophilic soil fungiKeratinomyces ajelloi, Trichophyton terrestre, Chrysosporium keratinophilum andArthroderma tuberculatum even in non-sterile soil samples. In samples in which its occurrence was especially frequent it stopped the growth of dermatophytes even if sterile human hair had been added to the sample.3. The results show that the soil microfauna can considerably regulate the spreading of keratinophilic fungi even in non-sterile soil samples.