Occurance of Keratinophilic Fungi from the Soils of Chhattisgarh

Soil is considered as the most complex media of microbial inhabitants including fungi. Soils differ in chemical composition and support the growth of specific fungal flora, however, majority of the soil fungi are autochthonous being indigenous to soil environment. Some of the soil fungi are associated with human and animal diseases and cause chronic problems. The soil containing keratin materials promotes the growth of keratinophilic fungi. Keratinophilic fungi grow and reproduce well on keratin materials such as skin, hair, feather, fur, horn, wool, hoop and nail. The distinction between the keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi is based on keratin utilization and degradation in naturals and artificial condition and the dermatophytes have potency to invade keratinized tissue including hair, nail and skin. The dermatophytes have been further divided into three ecological groups as Geophiles, Zoophiles and Anthrophiles. The prevalence of dermatophytes varies according to the geographical location, climate or living conditions, and the environment to which the susceptible organism is exposed. In the present study, two techniques have been adopted in the qualitative and quantitative isolation of these fungi from the soil samples collected from various location of Chhattisgarh state viz. Ambikapur, Bilaspur, Jashpur, Korba, Raigarh and Raipur districts, by Surface Soil Dilution Plating (SSPD) and hair/feather Baiting Technique (HFBT). Colonies developed by this technique are easy to pick-up for subsequent purification. Purification was made with Sabourauds Dextrose Agar medium at 320C. About one hundred and nineteen isolates belongs to twelve different genera were isolated from the soil. The dominating genera are: Microsporum pulchela, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Arthroderma gypseum, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium indicum, Chrysosporium pannicola, Malbranchea arcuata, M. pulchella, Acremonium sp. , Aspergillus flavous, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Cladosporium cladosporoides, Geotricum sp. and Humicola griesea etc. The data obtained indicates that the soil contain large number of keratinophilic fungi which may cause dermatomycosis or keratinomycoses, in the person those are involved in building work, leather work or in the sowing rice.