Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from soil in Isfahan province, Iran

Objective. — To evaluate the epidemiology of keratophilic fungi in Isfahan province, Iran.
Material and methods. — The present research has been conducted on soil samples collected
from 16 townships of Isfahan province. For isolate geophilic dermatophytes and keratinophilic
fungi, the keratin baiting technique has been applied.
Results. — Of 800 soil samples examined, 588 (73.5%) keratinophilic fungi were isolated. The
present studied recognized 727 isolates including 16 species of 11 genus, as follows: Chrysosporium
keratinophilum (31.4%), C. pannicola (16.9%), C. tropicum (15.4%), Microsporum
gypseum (12.4%), Chrysosporium spp. (9.9%), C. indicum (7%), Sepedonium spp. (3.3%),
Malbranchia spp. (1%), Trichophyton terrestre (0.8%), T. ajelloi and Paecilomyces lilacinus
(0.4%), Engyodontium album and Acremonium spp. (0.3%), Curvularia spp., Fusarium spp. and
Ulocladium spp. (0.1%). In this study, E. album was isolated for the first time in this country
(Iran). The frequency these keratinophilic fungi are discussed in relation to different agents
such as soil pH.
Conclusion. — This study contributes to the knowledge of keratophilic fungi in Iran.
# 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved