Keratinophilic fungi were isolated from feathers of most common Indian birds, viz. domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus), domestic pigeon (Columba livia), house sparrow (Passer domesticus), house crow (Corvus splendens), duck (Anas sp.), rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri). Out of 87 birds, 58 yielded 4 keratinophilic fungal genera representing 13 fungal species and one sterile mycelium. The isolated fungi were cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar at 28 +/- 2 degrees C. Chrysosporium species were isolated on most of the birds. Chrysosporium lucknowense and Chrysosporium tropicum were the most common fungal species associated with these Indian birds. Maximum occurrence of fungi (47%) was recorded on domestic chickens and the least number of keratinophilic fungi was isolated from the domestic pigeon and duck. The average number of fungi per bird was found to be the 0.44.

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One hundred nine isolates of 10 genera representing 20 species of keratinophilic fungi were isolated from soil of planted earthen pots in indoor environments of 15 localities of Kanpur, India, by the hair baiting technique. Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton vanbreuseghemii, and Botryotrichum piluliferum were found to release 698.66, 512.99, and 519.99 μg/ml net protein, respectively, whereas Arthroderma cuniculi released the minimum, 107.99 μg/ml. All other isolates were keratinolytically active.

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One hundred keratinophilic fungi belonging to Acremonium, Aphanoascus, Amauroascus, Botryotrichum, Chrysosporiurn, Ctenomyces, Gymnoascus, Malbranchea, Microsporum, Narashimella and Verticillium were tested for their potential to utilize hen feathers as keratinous waste. Acremonium sp. 2 and Chrysosporium europae released 494.33 and 457.33/~g/ml protein from feathers respectively. Microsporum gypseum released 698.66/~g/ml protein from feathers. Some of these keratinophUic strains other than Microsporum may prove beneficial as tools for rapid utilization of not only feathers but other hard keratinous substrates and their end product may be of industrial importance.

The breakdown of peacock feathers by 20 fungi is studied and characterized by the release of protein and keratinase activity. AU the fungi except Aspergillus quercinus and Chaetomium globosum released protein in the medium. Maximum keratinase activity is measured in Gliocladium roseum. The degradation of feathers and existence of extracellular keratinase in these fungi is presented here for the fmt time. Zusammenfassung: Untersuchung uber den Abbau von Pfauenfedern durch 20 verschiedene Pilze, wobei die keratinolytische Aktivitiit durch die Bestimmung freigesetzten Proteins und der Keratinaseaktivitiit charakterisiert wird. AUe W e auDer Aspergillus quercinus und Cbaetonium globosum setzen Protein in das Medium frei. Die hochste Keratinaseaktivitiit zeigte Gliocladium roseum. Der Abbau von Federn und die Bildung extrazelluljirer Keratinase wird fiir diese Wze zum erstenmal beschrieben.

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