Abstract
The pattern of incidence of keratinophilic fungi inhabiting the soil of 30 primary schools and 15 public parks in the city of Madras was studied using hair baiting technique. A total number of 31 species belonging to 15 genera were recovered, 16 of which were common to both the school and public park soil. Dermatophytes and closely related species were represented by 9 species, of which the following were the most commonly found species in soil: Chrysosporium tropicum (62.2%), C. keratinophilum (48.8%), M. gypseum (48.8%), C. pannorum (40%), T. mentagrophytes (37.7%), T. terrestre (31.1%) and C. anam. A. cuniculi (24.4%). The fungi encountered have also been discussed in relation to their global distribution.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Otcenasek M. Ecology of the dermatophytes. Mycopathologia 1978; 65: 67‐72.
Mercantini R, Marsella R, Caprilli F, Dovgiallo C.Isolation of dermatophytes and correlated species from the soil of public gardens and parks in Rome. Sabouraudia 1980; 18: 123‐128.
Mercantini R, Marsella R, Lambiase L, Belardi M. Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from floors in Rome (Italy) kindergarten and secondary schools. Mycopathologia 1986; 94: 109‐115.
Rippon JW. Medical Mycology. The pathogenic fungi and the pathogenic Actinomycetes. Philadelphia WB Saunders Company, 1982.
Mantovani A. The role of animals in the epidemiology of the mycoses. Mycopathologia 1978; 65: 61‐66.
Filipello MV. Keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi of children’s sand pits in the city of Turin (Italy). Mycopathologia 1986; 94: 163‐172.
Ali-shtayeh MS, Arda HM. Incidence of dermatophytosis in Jordan with special reference to tinea captis. Mycopathologia 1985; 92: 59‐62.
Ali-shtayeh MS, Arda HM. A study of tinea capitis in Jordan (West Bank). J Trop Med Hyg 1986; 89: 137‐141.
Carmichael JW. Chrysosporium and some other aleuriosporic hyphomycetes. Can J Bot 1962; 40: 113‐173.
Chabasse D. Taxonomic study of keratinophilic fungi isolated from soil and some mammals in France. Mycopathologia 1988; 101: 133‐140.
Gilman JC, ed. A manual of soil fungi. USA: The Collegiate Press, 1945.
Onion AHS, Ilsopp D, Eggins HOW, eds. Smith’s introduction to Mycology. London: Edward Arnold Publishers, 1981.
Wolf PL, Russel B, Shimoda A, eds. Practical clinical Microbiology and Mycology: Technique and interpretation. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1975.
Abdel-Fattah HM, Moubasher AH, Maghazy SM. Keratinophilic fungi in Egyptian soils. Mycopathologia 1982; 79: 49‐53.
AjeIlo L, Varsavsky E, Sotgiu C, Mazzom A, Mantovani A. Survey of soils for human pathogenic fungi from the Emilia‐Romagana region of Italy. Mycopath et Mycol Appl 1965; 26: 65‐70.
Alteras I, Evolceanu R. A ten years survey of Romanian soil screening for keratinophilic fungi (1958‐1967). Mycopath et Mycol Appl 1969; 38: 151‐159.
Muhammed SI, Lalji N. The distribution of geophilic dermatophytes in Kenyan soils. Mycopathologia 1978; 63: 95‐97.
Randhawa HS, Sandhu RS. Keratinophyton terreus gen Nov a keratinophilic fungus from soil in India. Sabouraudia 1965; 3: 251‐256.
Rogers AL. Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from soil in the vicinity of Bagota Colombia. Mycopath et Mycol Appl 1971; 44: 261‐264.
Ulfig K, Korcz M. Isolation of keratinophilic fungi from sewage sludge. Sabouraudia 1983; 21: 247‐250.
Ajello L, Varsavsky E, Ginther OJ, Bubash C. The natural history of Microsporum nanum. Mycologia 1964; 56: 873‐884.
Ajello L. Natural history of the dermatophytes and related fungi. Mycopath et Mycol Appl 1974; 53: 93‐110.
Ajello L, Varsavsky E and Delvingt W. Keratinophilic fungi from Belgian soil. Trans Br Mycol Soc 1965a; 48: 417‐421.
Bakerspigel A. The keratinophilic fungi of Ontario, Canada. Mycopath et Mycol Appl 1974; 53: 1‐11.
Caretta C, Piontelli E. Microsporum megallanicum and Cunninghamella antartica, new species isolated from Australia and Antartic soil of Chile. Sabouraudia 1977; 15: 1‐10.
Ajello L, Alpert EM. Survey of Ester Island soils for keratinophilic fungi. Mycologia 1972; 64: 161‐166.
Feuerman E, Alteras I, Honig E, Lehrer N. The isolation of keratinophilic fungi from the soils in Israel. A preliminary report. Mycopathologia 1975; 56: 41‐46.
Carg AK. Isolation of dermatophytes and other keratinophilic fungi from soil in India. Sabouraudia 1966; 4: 259‐264.
Ainsworth CC, Austwick PKC. Fungal diseases of animals. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham Royal, Slough, England, 1973.
Filipello MV, Luppi Mosca AM. Mycological analysis of the sands of a box for children’s play. Mycopathologia 1982; 80: 43‐54.
Hall NK, Larsh HW. Epdemiology of the mycoses. In: Howard DH, ed. Fungi pathogenic for humans and animals (In three parts); part B: pathogenecity and detection. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc, 1985; 3: 195‐228.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ramesh, V., Hilda, A. Incidence of keratinophilic fungi in the soil of primary schools and public parks of Madras city, India. Mycopathologia 143, 139–145 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006945012620
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006945012620