A Preliminary Study on the Occurrence of Keratinophilic Fungi in Soils of Jamaica

Abstract

This report represents the first study of keratinophilic fungi present in soils of Jamaica. Out of the 40 soil samples examined from different habitats, 30 (75%) were positive for the presence of keratinophilic fungi, yielding 36 isolates of keratinophilic fungi. Microsporum gypseum complex (represented by 16 isolates of M. gypseum, and four of M. fulvum) was most frequent, being present in 50% of the samples. A very high occurrence of this dermatophyte in Jamaican soil is of public health significance. The remaining isolates of keratinophilic fungi were represented by Chrysosporium spp (mainly C. indicum and C. tropicum) and Sepedonium sp.

Incidence of Keratinophilic Fungi from Selected Soils of Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State, India

“…The occurrence of dermatophytes in soil was reported for the first time by Vanbreuseghem [3] using the hair bait technique. Since then studies on the isolation of keratinophilic fungi from soil have been investigated throughout the world [4][5][6][7]. Vidarbha is the eastern region of Maharashtra state which lies between 17 ∘ 57 -21 ∘ 46 N latitude and 75 ∘ 57 -80 ∘ 59 E longitude.…”

Estimated Burden of Serious Fungal Infections in Jamaica

“…The predominant aetiological agents of tinea capitis were recorded to be Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum audouinii. Microsporum gypseum was represented by one isolate in this study, though it had been found frequently in the soil (50% of samples) in Jamaica (36).…”

Keratin Degradation by Penicillium purpurogenum Isolated from Tannery Soils in Jos, Nigeria

“…Soil pH is a factor that influences the distribution of fungi in any habitat. The distribution of keratinophilic fungi is influenced by soil pH and climatic factors [26]. Muhammed, [27] in a study on the distribution of geophilic dermatophytes in Kenyan soils, reported that the majority of the isolates of dermatophytes including M. gypseum were recovered from soils with acidic pH.…”