Keratin degradation by Scytalidium species and Fusarium solani

The keratin degradation capability of some non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi, viz Scytalidium dimidiatum types A and B, S. hyalinum, S. japonicum and Fusarium solani, was investigated using nail clippings and keratin powder as substrates. Representative isolates of the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes were also tested. The two morphological types of S. dimidiatum were almost equally effective in the degradation of substrates, 42-43% nail clippings and 24-26% keratin. Scytalidium hyalinum and S. japonicum degraded 40% and 38% of nail clippings respectively. Degradation of keratin was insignificant. In the case of F. solani, nail clippings were degraded 43% and keratin 20%. The dermatophytes caused much higher degradation of nail clippings (70-73%) and keratin (42-52%).