Keratinophilic Fungi in Soils of Yemen Arab Republic

Thirty-six species belonging to 15 genera of keratinophilic fungi were collected from 50 soil samples gathered from different places of Yemen by using hair fragments as baits at 28°C. Six species of true dermatophytes were collected: Arthroderma Lenticulare (= Trichophyton terrestre), Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. equinum, T. rubrum, T. soudanense and Microsporum gypseum. Numerous Keratinophilic fungi were isolated namely: Aphanoascus terreus (= Chrysosporium indicum), Aphanoascus species (= C. tropicum), A. fulvescens (= C. Keratinophilum), Chrysosporium pannicola, C. pruinosum, C. carmichaelii, C. lucknowense, C. xerophilum, C. asperatum, Arthroderma cuniculi, (= C. anamorph of Arthroderma cuniculi), A. curreyi (=C. anamorph of Arthroderma curreyi) and Prectinotrichum llanense (= C. anamorph of Prectinotrichum llanense). The commonest saprophytes in order of frequency were member of the genera Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Cunninghamella, Fusarium, Ulocladium and Macrophomina.