Keratinophilic fungi isolated from the air at Pavia

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Environmental Microbiology
• Aerobiology

Background:

• Keratinophilic fungi are soil-dwelling fungi capable of degrading keratin.
• Airborne fungal spores can pose health risks and indicate environmental conditions.
• Previous studies have characterized fungal populations in various Italian regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and quantify keratinophilic fungi present in the air of Pavia, Italy.
• To establish a baseline of airborne fungal diversity in the region.
• To investigate the prevalence of specific dermatophyte species in the atmosphere.

Main Methods:

• Air sampling was conducted in Pavia, Italy, over a 12-month period (March 1981 - February 1982).
• Standard mycological techniques were employed for isolation and identification of fungal species.
• Selective media were used to isolate keratinophilic fungi and cycloheximide-tolerant fungi.

Main Results:

• Several species of keratinophilic fungi were isolated, including Chrysosporium indicum, Geomyces pannorum var. pannorum, Microsporum gypseum, Myceliophtora vellerea, and Trichophyton terrestre.
• The study detected a diverse range of airborne filamentous fungi.
• High tolerance to cycloheximide was observed in several recovered fungal isolates.

Conclusions:

• The air in Pavia harbors a variety of keratinophilic fungi throughout the year.
• The identified species, particularly dermatophytes like Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton terrestre, highlight potential exposure routes.
• Further research is warranted to assess the public health implications of airborne keratinophilic fungi.