Keratinolytic and keratinophilic fungi of mangrove's soil and air in the city of Qena and their response to garlic extract and onion oil treatments

Forty-eight species and l variety belonging to 25 genera were collected from 50 soil samples (41 species and l variety and 21 genera) and the atmosphere (27 species and l variety and 14 genera) of mangrove in the city Qena using hair baiting technique at 28"C. Twenty of these species was dermatophytes and closely related fungi. The most common and frequent species of the latter fungi were Aphanoascus fulvescens (telemorph of Chrysosporium keratinophilum), A. terreus (C. indicum). Aphanoascus sp. (C. tropicum) and Chrysosporium xerophilum. Sixty-eight isolates were tested for the abilites for growth on hair - sand medium. Most (73.5 %) had moderate growth rate. All keratinophilie fungi recovered in the present investigation were sensitive to garlic extract and onion oil.