Isolation of dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi from the two public parks in Ahvaz

Fungi found in soil and the variation and prevalence in each area depends on environmental and nutritional conditions. Considering the importance of soil in transmission of diseases, this study aims at assessing the frequency of dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi, potentially pathogenic fungi in various samples collected from two public parks in Ahvaz, SW Iran. Five hundred samples were collected from different parts of the Zoo and Laleh parks in Ahvaz. The fungal flora was analyzed in different samples for the presence of dermatophytes and keratinophilic fungi by hair baiting technique. Specimens were contained soil, carpet pad technique from the walls of the cages, and animals’ residues. The samples were cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar, containing chloramphenicol and cyclohexamide, and incubated at 25-27^oC for 4-5 weeks aerobically. Isolates were identified by colony morphology, slide cultures, and differentiation tests. Most of the isolated dermatophytes were collected from the soil of the Zoo park. The most common keratinophilic fungus was Chrysosporium (5). Other species were Trichophyton mentagrophytes (3), T. verrucosum (2), T. schoenleinii (1) and M. gypseum (1). The results demonstrated that dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi of Ahvaz is somewhat different from that in other parts of Iran. This may be due to the different climatic conditions prevailing. Considering, the fact that most of the potential pathogenic fungi were isolated from the Zoo park, where there are wilds and domestic animals.