Search

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Keratinophillic fungi from domestic animals in Sukkur City Sindh Pakistan. Methodology: A total of seven hundred and fifty hair samples from three groups (buffalo, goat and cow) of animals were collected in sterilized polythene bags in Sukkur city. Hair pieces measuring 2cm were placed on the agar plates supplemented with 0.05 g/l chloramphenicol for obtaining the fungal growth on hair. Hairs showing the whitish mycelial growth were transferred to freshly prepared Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar (SDA) for cultural growth and pure culture were maintained at 5oC in refrigerator. Results: Out of 750 hair samples collected from three domestic animals which were studied in Sukkur city, Sindh, Pakistan, five hundred ninety four (594) isolates belonged to 8 genera and 9 species were isolated. A. candidus and Alterneria alternata were almost equally prevalent species represented by 14.81% and 14.48% respectively of the total number of isolates. A. niger and Chrysosporium asparatum were equal in their prevalence and represented 12.63% and 12.46%. Exophiala sp comes next constituting 12.29% followed by Stemphyllium sp. 10.94%. Other species isolated less frequently included Cladosporium 8.08%, Acrimonium sp.7.41% and Penicillium sp. 6.90%. The isolation frequency of fungal biota was significantly greater in buffalo from cow and goat (respectively 40.06%, 33.33% and 26.60% p = 0.02). Conclusion: Keratinophillic fungi were isolated from domestic animals and the prevalence of these fungi in domestic animals may have a role in transmission of skin and other infections in human population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]