Distribution of Soil Keratinophilic Fungi Isolated in Summer Beaches of the East Sea in Korea

Lee, Min Jung; Park, Joon Soo; Chung, Hyun; Jun, Jae Bok; Bang, Yong Joon

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Soil is well-known as a route to fungal infection in human. Recently, human exposure to potentially pathogenic fungi is threatening the health of people. People are easily and frequently in touch with soil on summer beaches, however, there has been no report suggesting the association between fungal infection in human and soil on summer beaches. Identifying both environments and fungi in places where people are exposed can be of major health concern.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research is to understand the distribution and frequency of occurrence of keratinophilic fungi (KPF) on summer beaches of the East Sea in Korea.
METHODS
To investigate the distribution of soil KPF living in beaches of the East Sea in Korea, soil samples were collected at 132 sites of eleven different areas and KPF were isolated by hair baiting technique.
RESULTS
1. 43 strains of KPF were recovered from 41 (31.0%) out of 132 samples. 2. Isolated fungi were composed of 36 strains of Chrysosporium species, 6 strains of Microsporum gypseum, and 1 strain of Trichophyton ajelloi. 3. Among three areas under different condition of moisture and shadedness (i.e., sunny wet, sunny dry, and shaded dry area), the frequency of isolation was highest in shaded dry area (56.8%) followed by sunny dry (36.4%) and sunny wet area (4.5%).
CONCLUSION
The distribution of KPF in beaches of the East Sea in Korea was somewhat different from that in previous studies which had been undertaken in other areas of Korea. Therefore, we think this report can support the association between the fungal infection in human and soil.