mykosen 12 (4) : 231-232 (1969) Eingegangen am 1 1 . Mai 1968

From the Institute for Health Protection of the S. R. of Serbia, Belgrad

Dermatophytes and other fungi isolated from the soil in Serbia

MARIJA S T E F A N O V I ~

The biology of some fungus organisms that may cause pathogenic conditions in man and animals is very complex as some of them live as saprophytes in human bodies or in the environment composed of the air, soil, etc. Accordingly, intensified investigations into fungus organisms living in the outer space, are of extreme importance.

Investigating the samples taken from the soil in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Grin and OiegoviC examined the adjustment of individual dermatophytes and proposed to divide them into four groups: saprophytes, obligatory saprophytes and facultative parasites, anthropophilic and zoophilic types, in order to observe more easily their evolution.

From the soil samples taken from Serbia 176 strains of different types of fungi were isolated. The samples were taken from a hospital garden, from the bottom and top of the GO; mountain and from the vicinity of the Mataruzka spa, where there is a sulphur bath.

In these investigations the technique of the hair bait originally developed by KARLING in 1946, later adapted by VANBREUSEGHEM for the isolation of dermatophytes from soil was applied. For this purpose the hairs of different origin were used. The Petri dishes were incubated at laboratory temperature with the mecessary humidity amount. The investigators found that some parts of the hairs used were sooner or later covered by white, grey or light yellow filamentous mycelium.

The results obtained from a two-months observation showed powder or cottoneus hips, and the small hair parts were fairly ruined. In addition, mycelium was found whim did not belong to dermatophytes but to molds. The hairs were inoculated on Sabourand's glucose agar with antibacterial antibiotics added to it. The incubation was carried out a t 25 "C.

The largest percentage of keratinophilic fungi taken from the soil is related to Micro- sporurn gypseum observed in more than one half of isolated strains, i. e. 57.38 percent. Following are Chrysosporium keratinophilum 8.25, Microsporum fulvurn 6.25, and a slight number of isolates relating to Keratinomyces Ajelloi 3.97, Arthroderma quadrifi- dum 2.27, and Trichophyton (Chrysosporium) evolceanui 1.73. In 35 cases (or 19.88 per- cent) fungi were present.

Molds were isolated as follows: 31.42 percent of Alternaria sp., Aspergillus sp. 23, Penicillium 11.43 and Cephalosporium sp. 11.43.

The percentages of isolates in various areas were different. The soil sample taken from the hospital garden shows the largest percentage of Microsporum gypseum, 94.7, while there have been no other keratinophilic fungi. Microsporum fulvum was found solely a t the top and bottom of the G o t mountain. The number of these isolates was three time larger a t the mountain top. where Arthroderma quadrifidum was also found (6.78 per- cent). No elsewhere has this been isolated. Chrysosporiurn keratinophilum was also more numerous a t the top than a t the bottom of the mountain, 23.72 : 2.63 percent. Keratino- myces Ajelloi was more present at the top than at the bottom. So far it has suggested that certain keratinophilic fungi are prevalent a t the mountain top. It should be noted that the

132 MARIJA STEFANOVIC

soil which we are observed from the montain belongs to redish acid brown soil on crystal- line schists containing a large quantity of humus. Some other factors, perhaps, as the altitude, which is in this case 1,114 metres above sea level, do play some role in the crea- tion of the conditions favouring this mycologic flora. It is evident that the fungus which had been declared to be Trichophyton (Chrysosporium) evolceanui on the basis of its micro- and macromorphologic features, was isolated three times exclusively from the soil samples taken from the sulphur bath mentioned.

As for the sexual reproduction of keratinophilic fungi, it depends, as we know, on a number of factors, such as: temperature, humidity, pH (GENTLES). It is probable, how- ever, that there are also some, until now unknown factors influencing their creation. Investigating cleisthecia we found them only in Arthroderma quadrifidum, perfect forms of Trichophyton terrestre on decolorated hairs at laboratory temperature varying froin 20 to 23 degrees. Comparisons were made as to the possibility of obtaining cleisthecia o n a healthy and on a decolorated autoclaved human hair.

Summary The soil of Serbia is a rich store of dermatophytes. In more than one half of the isolated

strains Microsporum gypseum was prevalent. In some areas soil samples were investigated for keratophilic and other e n g i . In the

200 samples taken 176 different fungi were present. Some strains were exclusively related to both the mountain top and bottom, which may be explained by the composition of the soil itself (i. e. the soil is composed of humus), influencing the creation of some types of keratinophilic fungi. The autoclaved and decolorated human hair showed the formation of cleistothecia. Sulphurous soil favours the existence of only some fungus strains.

Zusammenfassung Der Erdboden Serbiens ist reich an Dermatophyten. In mehr als der HalRe der isolier-

ten Stamme handelte es sich um Mikrosporum gypseum (57,38 %). Es folgten Chryso- sporium keratinophilum (8,25 %, Mikrosporum fulvum (6,25 %), Keratinomyces Ajelloi (3,97 X), Arthroderma quadrifidum (2,27 X) und Trichophyton (Chrysosporium) evolcea- nui (1,73 %).

In 200 aus verschiedenen Gebieten stammenden Erdproben wurden insgesamt 176 Pilze verschiedener Art festgestellt. Einige Stamme waren mehr in hoheren Lagen, andere mehr am Fuge von Bergen zu finden. Die Erklarung hierfur ist hauptsachlich in der verschie- denen Zusanimensetzung des Bodens zu suchen, insbesondere der Humusgehalt ist von Bedeutung fur die Entwicklung ganz bestimmter Arten von keratinophilen Pilzen. Schwe- felhaltiger Boden begunstigt nur wenige Pilzarten. An den als Koder verwendeten auto- klavierten und dekolorierten menschlichen Haaren entwickelten sich Cleistothecien.

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Author’s address: Dr. MARIJA S T E F A N O V I ~ , Beograd, 29 novembre No. 25/V, Jugoslavija

mykosen 12, Heft 4 (1969)