Diversity of the Chrysosporium species and relatives in soils of Iran


Background: Chrysosporium species are keratinophilic filamentous fungi normally isolated from soil and plant materials and occasionally from skin, hair and nail scrapings of human and animals. 1 There is limited reliable data pertaining to the distribution pattern of Chrysosporium  species in the soils of Iran. In this study we aimed to extend our knowledge in this regard.
Material & Methods: A total of 1340 soil samples from 10 provinces were collected from various spots. The keratinophilic fungi were isolated based on the hair-baiting technique and were subjected to sequencing of the nuclear ITS-rDNA regions for identification and phylogenetic analysis.
Results: Totally, in 184 (13.7%) soil samples whose PH ranged from 6.4 to 9.5 a Chrisosporium species or relative was isolated. Based on the data from sequencing Aphanoascus verrucosus was the dominant isolate (110; 59.8%) followed by Aphanoascus terreus (18; 9.8%), Chrysosporium pannicola (16; 8.7%), Arthroderma multifidum (14; 7.6%), C. keratinophilum (11; 6%), Ctenomyces serratus (7; 3.8%), Nannizziopsis guarroi (4; 2.1%), C. indicum (2; 1%), Chrysosporium guizhouense (1; 0.5%) and Arthroderma tuberculatum (1; 0.5%). The strains of A. verrucosus (Figs 1 and 2). had the most genetic variation and were isolated from all provinces.  

Conclusion: isolation of Aphanoascus species with the highest rate was the most remarkable finding of the study which is of public health significance.

Diversity of the Chrisosporium species and relatives in soils of Iran