The Hygienic Importance of Fungi Colonizing the Sheep Wool in Erbil/Iraq

Abstract

Aims: The study was conducted to identify a non-dermatophytic fungi associated with wool hairs in Erbil city. The common and dominate fungal genera were recorded, as well as the hygienic importance of all isolates were reviewed. Materials and Methods: Wool samples were collected during February 2017. Pieces of wool hair were cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar. Cultured plates were incubated in room temperature. The growing fungi were counted and were identified microscopically. The occurrence % (O%), and the frequency of occurrence % (FQ%) for the identified genera were calculated. Results: A 22 fungal isolates belong to 16 genera beside one isolate of Actinomycetes were recognized. The Hyphomycetes represented in (10 genera 62.5%), they were (Alternaria, Aspergillus (5 sp), Scytelidium, Chrysosporium, Curvelaria, Cladosporium, Penecilium, Scpulariopsis, Fusarium and Ulocladium. Two genera belong to each of Ascomycetes and Zygomycetes (12.5%) include (Chaetomium, Pseudallescheria) and (Mucor, Rhizopus) respectively Basidiomycetes and Coelomycetes represent one genus (6.25%), they were Rhodotorula and phoma. Aspergillus showed the highest O% and FO% (88%; 32.9%) followed by Cladosporium (36%; 13.8%). Conclusion: The results showed that: 1-Hyphomycetes is predominant and Aspergillus is the common genus. 2- All the recorded fungi had an effects on human health. According to the previous studies their infections ranging from mild skin mycoses to serious deep infections. 3-A 81.25% of the recorded fungal genera in this study were previously isolated from upper respiratory tract of individuals have asthma and allergic symptoms in Iraq. 4-It is the first recorded of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa from wool samples in Iraq.