Characterization of keratinophilic fungal species and other non-dermatophytes in hair and nail samples in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

The presence of fungal species on skin and hair is a known finding in many mammalian species and humans are no exception.

Superficial fungal infections are sometimes a chronic and recurring condition that affects approximately 10-20% of the world‟s population.

However, most species that are isolated from humans tend to occur as co-existing flora.

This study was conducted to determine the diversity of fungal species from the hair and nails of 24 workers in the central region of Saudi Arabia.

Male workers from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were recruited for this study and samples were obtained from their nails and hair for mycological analysis using Sabouraud‟s agar and sterile wet soil.

A total of 26 species belonging to 19 fungal genera were isolated from the 24 hair samples.

Chaetomium globosum was the most commonly isolated fungal species followed by Emericella nidulans, Cochliobolus neergaardii and Penicillium oxalicum.

Three fungal species were isolated only from nail samples, namely, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, and Penicillium chrysogenum.

This study demonstrates the presence of numerous fungal species that are not previously described from hair and nails in Saudi Arabia.

The ability of these fungi to grow on and degrade keratinaceous materials often facilitates their role to cause skin, hair and nail infections in workers and other persons subjected to fungal spores and hyphae.