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.

Identification of Keratinophilic Fungi in Urban Waste and Cattle Field Soil of Kanpur, India for Environmental Pollution Management

Kanpur is a city which has huge number of leather product units and leather processing plants. These units are one of major contributors of keratinous waste and produces keratinous material as waste in the form of hairs, hides, dermis. During the present study 83 keratinophilic fungi were isolated from 40 soil samples of urban waste and cattle field habitat of various localities. From 20 samples of urban waste, 44 keratinophilic fungi were isolated, 39 fungi recorded from Cattle field. The frequency of genera Chrysosporium was recorded in urban waste (29.54%) and cattle field soil (20.51%). Maximum (13.83%) frequency was recorded in the case of Chrysosporium indicum in urban waste.

Isolation of Dermatophytes from Clinically Suspected Cases of Superficial Fungal Infections

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi responsible for dermatophytoses which are superficial mycoses affecting skin, hair and nails. The aim of the study was to isolate dermatophytes from clinically suspected cases of superficial fungal infections. This study was carried out at the Department of Microbiology, Grant Government Medical College & Sir J.J Group of Hospitals, Mumbai. A total of 279 clinically suspected cases of superficial fungal infections were included in the present study. The specimens like skin scraping, nail and hair were collected with all aseptic precautions and were first examined under microscope on KOH mount and then inoculated on to duplicate slopes of Sabouraud dextrose agar (plain) and SDA (Chloramphenicol and Cycloheximide). Lactophenol cotton blue preparations were made of each fungal growth and were identified using specific tests like slide culture, hair perforation and urease test. Out of the 279 clinically suspected cases of superficial mycoses, maximum involved the skin (65.23%) and a total of 216 (77.42%) cases were of clinically suspected dermatophytoses. KOH mount examination alone could detect 144 (66.66%) cases out of the 216 clinically suspected cases of dermatophytoses. A total 162 isolates were confirmed in which maximum dermatophytes 122 (75.30%) were found. Amongst the dermatophytes, T. rubrum was the commonest pathogenic species isolated followed by T. mentagrophytes. Other species isolated were T. tonsurans, M. gypseum, E. floccosum, T. verrucosum and M. audouinii, T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes were mainly isolated from Tinea unguium followed by Tinea corporis cases. M. gypseum was isolated only from Tinea capitis cases whereas M. audouinii was isolated only from Tinea unguium cases. Dermatophytoses are the most common types of superficial cutaneous fungal infections. The incidence of Dermatophytoses is increasing in India due to widespread and indiscriminate use of corticosteroids and antifungal agents without performing appropriate microbiological investigations.

Culturable Fungi from Urban Soils in China I: Description of 10 New Taxa

Keratinophilic fungi are a group that can degrade and utilize keratin-rich material. It is also because of this ability that many taxa can cause infections in animals or humans but remain poorly studied.

In vitro virulence evaluation of clinical and environmental isolates of dermatophyte fungi

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi and the causative agent of dermatophytosis in animals and people. In the pathogenesis of this disease, enzymes such as DNase, gelatinase, lipase, keratinase, elastase, and collagenase are highlighted. This work aimed to verify the production of these enzymes by clinical and environmental isolates of dermatophytes. Environmental strains were obtained by the Vanbreuseghem technique (1952), using soil samples from different Brazilian locations. The clinical samples were obtained from animal hair and crust sent to the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Service/UFRRJ. The enzymatic evaluation of the dermatophytes was made by spectrophotometer absorbance readings (collagenase, elastase, and keratinase), degradation halo formation in Petri dishes (DNase and lipase) and tube liquefaction (gelatinase). The clinical isolates were Microsporum canis (11), Nannizzia gypsea (7), N. nana (2), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (4) and Trichophyton sp. (6). The environmental isolates were N. gypsea (25), N. nana (1) and Trichophyton sp. (4). There was no statistically significant difference in keratinase, elastase, lipase and gelatinase production between the clinical and environmental isolates groups. There was a statistically significant difference in collagenase and DNase production. It is concluded that both clinical and soil samples are capable of producing enzymes related to dermatophyte infection.

Keratinolysis of chicken feather and human hair by nondermatophytic keratinophilic fungi isolated from soil

Development in food industry increases consumption of chicken by people and it is estimated that tons of poultry feathers are produced by poultry farms. Hairs are other forms of keratinous waste which is generated in huge amounts by leather industries and parlours worldwide. Chicken feathers and hairs are waste contains high-quality protein, hard to degraded. Eleven nondermatophytic keratinophilic fungi were isolated from soil by hair baiting method and were used to deteriorate hairs and feathers. Pictographic authentication showed that the microbial incidence started with surface colonization of keratinous substrate, mechanical interference of substrate by penetrating hyphae and development of broad perforating organs. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of degraded and undegraded hair and the feather was made. In the sulphoxide region at 1073, the band corresponding to S-O was observed with low intensity and poorly visible in control feathers, while in degraded feather intensity of the band was high in case of Chrysosporium indicum and Chrysosporium tropicum. In Hairs, S-O band was more intense in C indicum as compared to C. tropicum while it was absent in undegraded human hair. The present work observed keratin degradation activity on human hair and chicken feather by FTIR spectra which are useful in the study of structure and mechanism of keratinolysis. Keratinous waste degradation has great potential to convert them into various byproducts such as enzymes, amino acids, biofertilizer and animal feed.