Distribution of Soil Keratinophilic Fungi Isolated in the Pohang & Kyongju Areas

Suh, Moo Kyu; Sung, Yeol Oh

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Because saprophytes found in soil rarely cause dermatomycosis, we studied the distribution of soil keratinophilie fungi(KPF) in the Pohang & Kyongju areas.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to investigate the distribution of soil KPF isolated in various sites in the Pohang & Kyongju areas.
METHODS
From 150 soil samples, collected at 50 sites in the Pohang & Kyongju areas, KPF were isolated using the hair baiting technique.
RESULTS
1) Of the number of 150 sol samples KPF were isolated from 103 samples(68.7%). The total number of strains isolated were 115 consisting of 45 Trichophyton(T.) ajelloi, 33 Chrysasporium sp 24 Microsporum(M) gyseum, 7 Sepedonium, and 6 M. cookei. 2) The number of KPF isolated at varius sites was high in the cowshed, and low at the riverside. T. ajelloi was frequent in the field in the Pohang area, M. gypseum in the cowshed in the Kyongju area, Chrysosporium sp. on the hill, by the river and at the roadside in the Pohang area, M. cookei at the roadside in the Pohang area, and Sepedonium on the hill.
CONCLUSION
We find that the distribution of KPF in the Pohang & Kyongju areas is similar to that in previous studies which have been undertaken in Korea. However, particular attention shoud be paid to the presence of KPF isolated near the sea.