Culturable keratinophilic fungi isolated from house dust by hair-baiting technique

Abstract

This study isolated 38 species of fungi on potato-dextrose agar medium by a new procedure, incubating sterilized human hair on humid house dust for one month or more. The growth of keratinophilic fungi from the in-house dust was promoted by hair. In particular, Scopulariopsis, Arthrographis, Chrysosporium, and Fusarium were predominantly detected after cultivation. These fungi have been reported to cause dermatologic diseases and are considered opportunistic pathogens. Fungal flora in house dust detected by the hair-baiting technique reflects the pathogenic keratinophilic fungi more accurately than the fungi isolated on mycosel medium containing cycloheximide. Therefore, during diagnosis, the hair-baiting technique helps identify keratinophilic dermatologic fungi infected from the indoor environment. Moreover, this study discussed the nutritional and ecological characteristics of the other isolated fungi.