Incidence of keratinolytic and dermatophytic fungi in sewage sludge in Basrah, Iraq

Abstract EN

A survey of keratinloytic and dermatophytic fungi revealed 17 fungal species present in sewage sludge samples collected from three sites at Basrah province, Southern Iraq… Among the isolated fungi, five species represent three genera of dermatophytes and 13 species were belonging to nine genera of keratinolytic fungi.

Human hair substrate revealed the highest incidence of fungal isolates in sewage sludge samples.

A similarity of fungal incidence patterns over sites and collecting times was observed.

High correlation between organic carbon content and fungal incidence was detected.

Keratinase activity assay revealed that the tested fungi exhibited high activity of this enzyme.

In vitro, different concentrations of chlorine have been tested to examine its inhibitory action on fungal growth.

A reduction in fungal growth at different Chlorine concentrations varied among the tested fungi.