Survey of Keratinophilic Fungi from Feathers of Birds in Tuscany

Although keratinophilic fungi on avian feathers have been widely described, data from European literature are quite lacking regarding Mediterranean countries. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the occurrence of fungal species on feathers of different avian species in Italy. A total of 378 feather samples from both aquatic (n = 254) and terrestrial birds (n = 124), for a total of 30 bird species, were cultured for keratinophilic fungi. Fungal isolates were recognized by their macro- and micro-scopical morphology, and results were corroborated by PCR and sequencing. Keratinophilic fungi belonging to 11 different species (Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Trichophyton terrestre, Microsporum gypseum, Sepedonium sp., Chrysosporium pannorum, Myriodontium sp., Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium pruinosum, Chrysosporium luteum and Aphanoascus fulvescens) were isolated from 71 animals (18.8%). The frequency of isolation of keratinophilic species from terrestrial birds was significantly higher in waterfowl. Migratory birds in Italy have been proven to carry pathogenic fungi such as dermatophytes, (A. platyrhyncos, A. crecca, E. rubecula), besides saprophytic species.

Isolation and identification of keratinophilic fungi in soil samples from excavation area of ancient city of Stratonikeia, Turkey and determination of its enzyme potentials

Aim: To isolate and identyfy keratinophilic fungi from soil samples excavated excavation area within the ancient city of Stratonikeia, Turkey and determination of their enzyme potentials. Stratonikeia, a city in the interior of Caria, located at Eskihisar Village, in the Yatagan district of Mugla province of Turkey. Methodology: Keratin bating technique was applied for isolating of dermatophytes and keratinophilic fungi. Fungal isolate were identified by phenotyping and genotyping methods. Screening of protease, keratinase, cellulose, lipase and cutinase enzyme was carried at solid medium. Results: Non-dermatophyte species, viz., Aspergillus fumigatus, Engyodontium album, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Lecanicillium lecani and Purpureocillium lilacinum were identified. Protease, keratinase and cellulase were determined at moderate and high levels, while lipase and cutinase were not recorded. Interpretation: Non-dermatophyte strains having high keratinase, cellulase and protease activities are not only involved in pathogenesis, but also have a great ecological significance due to keratin degrading potential.

Dermatophytes and Other Keratinophiic Fungi in Soils of Anguilla, British West Indies (BWI)

Aims: Keratinophilic fungi include dermatophytes and a variety of other fungi. Information on their occurrence in several Caribbean countries is scarce. This study investigates occurrence of dermatophytes and other keratinophiic fungi in soils of Anguilla, British West Indies (BWI) and emphasizes its public health significance. Study design: Place and Duration of Study: The study was done in the Department of Microbiology, Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla (BWI). One hundred and ten samples of soils from habitats in several localities in Anguilla were examined. Methodology: The samples were processed by Vanbreuseghem’s hair-bait technique. Bits of fungal growth on hair-bates were cultured on Mycobiotic agar to get pure cultures. Identification of the isolates was accomplished by a detailed study of colonial characters and microscopical features of the isolates. Results: Eighty-five isolates of keratinophilic fungi were recovered. The identified species included two geophilic dermatophytes, Micrsporum fulvum and M. gypseum and two species of Chrysosporium, namely Chrysosporium keratinophilum and C. indicum, M. fulvum was the predominant species being recovered from 35 (31.8%) of the soil samples followed by C. keratinophilum being isolated from 15.5% of the samples. M. gypseum was present in 8 (7.3%) of the samples. The prevalence of other species was as follows: C. indicum (13.6%), Chrysosporium spp. (4.5%) and Sepedonium spp. (4.5%). Conclusion: The preponderance occurrence of M. fulvum over M. gypseum and that of C. keratinophilum over C. indicum in soils of Anguilla is a remarkable observation. The farmers, other workers, school children who come in contact with soil are likely to be infected with a dermatophytes and also the visitors to the beaches and the local population nearby.

Studies on the occurrence of fungi in a whea-field. L. Mesophilic, Thermophiuc and keratinophilic fungi in soil

Desde Octubre 1982 a Julio 1983 un total de 1772 colonias fúngicas se aislaron desde suelos de trigales en Lombardía. Se estudiaron hongos mesófilos, termófilos y queratinófilos. Entre los mesófilos (59 especies) se detectan como dominantes: Fusarium oxysporum, Lipomyces starkeyi, penicillium janthinellum; como frecuentes, Cryptococcus albidus, Gibberella acuminata, Gliocladium roseum, Rhizopus stolonifer; y otros raros Bahusakala olivaceonigra, Pseudallescheria boydii, Truncotella angustata, Verticillium lecanii, Pyrenochaeta ilicis, Myrotheclum roridum, Drechslera dematioidea. Entre los termófilos (15 especies) como dominantes, Aspergillus fumigatus y Rhizomucor pusillus; frecuentes, Scytalidium thermophilum y thermomyces lanuginosus. Entre los queratinofílicos (11 especies), como dominantes Myceliophthora anamorfo de Ctenomyces serratus, Microsporum gypseum fulvum complex y Chrysosporium merdarium como frecuentes, Chrysosporium keratinophilum y Ctenomyces serratus. Durante Febrero y Abril, la incidencia de todos los grupos aumenta notoriamente.

Keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi of mangrove's soil and air in the city of Qena and their response to garlic extract and onion oil treatments

Forty-eight species and l variety belonging to 25 genera were collected from 50 soil samples (41 species and l variety and 21 genera) and the atmosphere (27 species and l variety and 14 genera) of mangrove in the city Qena using hair baiting technique at 28"C. Twenty of these species was dermatophytes and closely related fungi. The most common and frequent species of the latter fungi were <i>Aphanoascus fulvescens</i> (telemorph of <i>Chrysosporium keratinophilum), A. terreus (C. indicum). Aphanoascus</i> sp. <i>(C. tropicum)</i> and <i>Chrysosporium xerophilum</i>. Sixty-eight isolates were tested for the abilites for growth on hair - sand medium. Most (73.5 %) had moderate growth rate. All keratinophilie fungi recovered in the present investigation were sensitive to garlic extract and onion oil.

SOIL MICROMYCETES AND VEGETATION CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH VEGETATIVE COVER DESTRUCTION ON CHOSEN LOCALITIES OF TATRY MOUNTAINS - FIRST APPROACH

AbstractĎugova O., Barančokova M., Krajči J., Barančok P.: Soil micromycetes and vegetation changes associated with vegetative cover destruction on chosen localities of Tatry Mountains - first approach. Ekologia (Bratislava), Vol. 32, No. 2, p. 158-172, 2013.Species composition of soil micromycetes and vegetation and its changes associated with vegetative cover destruction were observed in four localities of Tatry Mts. Three research plots with different extent of vegetation destruction on each locality were subjectively chosen: control plots with almost no destruction of vegetation and soil cover (C), partially disturbed plots (B) and plots with high level of soil cover destruction where cover of herb layer was less than 20% (A). Plant species composition of control plots was characterised by the highest level of taxonomical diversity, highest cover of herb and moss layer and represented by alpine herb and grass communities on siliceous bedrock (Juncion trifidi alliance) and alpine and subalpine plant communities on calcareous bedrock (Seslerion tatrae alliance). Devastation of soil and vegetation on B and A plots was performed particularly by decreasing of herb layer cover and changes in species composition: species as Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Calluna vulgaris were absent, whereas Poa alpina, Potentilla aurea, Agrostis rupestris or Avenella flexuosa occurred on devastated plots often. From investigated soils 43 species of soil micromycetes were identified. Control plot of each locality was represented by the highest taxonomical diversity of soil micromycetes. The number of species significantly decreased on plots with successive destruction of vegetation cover (B and A). Several species were identified in just one case (Penicillium digitatum (pers.:Fr.) Sacc., Chrysosporium keratinophilum D.Frey ex J.W. Carmich. etc.). The outcomes showed that soil microorganisms as well as vascular plants react on destruction of soil cover very sensitively.

Species diversity of keratinophilic fungi in various soil types

Keratinophilic fungi are a highly specialized, keratin-degrading ecological group. They live in natural environments, mostly in the keratinrich remains of dead animal in the soil. We investigated species diversity in four types of soils with different physico-chemical properties. The strain material was identified based on morphological characters. Different representatives of Chrysosporium and geophilic dermatophytes dominated depending on soil pH. Geophilic dermatophytes were represented by one species, Trichophyton ajelloi, and the Chrysosporium group was represented by Chrysosporium keratinophilum. The frequency of Trichophyton ajelloi increased with an increase in pH, and it reached the maximum in strongly acidic soil (podzol), unlike the Chrysosporium group. The frequency of Chrysosporium keratinophilum was positively correlated with the content of humus, nitrogen, CaCO3 and phosphorus in the soils.

Prevalence of keratinophilic fungi in soils of St. Kitts and Nevis

Introduction: Information on the prevalence of keratinophilic fungi in West Indies is scanty. Occurrence of keratinophilic fungi in soils of St. Kitts and Nevis has not been investigated previously. Methodology: The prevalence of keratinophilic fungi was investigated in 108 samples of soils of varying habitats from St. Kitts and 55 such samples from Nevis by hair-baiting technique. Fungal growths appearing on the hair baits after four to eight weeks of incubation at room temperature were microscopically examined and cultured on mycological media. Cultures were identified on the basis of colonial and microscopic features. Results: Forty-nine (45%) of the samples from St. Kitts and 38 (69%) from Nevis were positive for keratinophilic fungi. Microsporum gypseum complex, a well-known geophilic dermatophyte, was the most frequently recovered species being present in 15.7% of soils of St. Kitts and 40% of soils of Nevis. The next commonest species recovered was Chrysosporium indicum, represented by 15 (13.9%) isolates from St. Kitts and seven (12.7%) isolates from Nevis. Other infrequently isolated keratinophilic species included Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, and unidentified Chrysosporium species. Conclusions: This study is the first of its kind in the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis. A high incidence of M. gypseum complex in the soil of these islands is a noteworthy finding of public health significance.