A Distribution of Keratinophilic Fungi Isolated from the Soil of Haeundae Beach in Korea

Keratinophilic fungus (KPF), a type of dermatophytes, is usually present as normal flora on the skin of humans and animals but can produce ring worm-like dermatophytosis by invading the skin in infected individuals. They are distributed worldwide, but their occurrences vary distinctively in accordance with the geographical location and environmental change. Because these fungi grow by degrading keratin, they are abundantly found on the skin, hair, and nails, which are rich in keratin. To investigate the presence of keratinophilic fungi in the soil, we selected a popular beach in South Korea, Haeundae Beach, where numerous people gather each year during the summer holidays. Hundred soil samples were analyzed using the hair-baiting technique, among which, a total of 23 colonies of KPF were identified from 21 soil samples. The identified KPF were Microsporum gypseum (43%), Chrysosporium spp. (35%), Trichophyton ajelloi (13%), and Microsporum cookie (9%). This study confirmed that pathogenic fungi can be found in places crowded by many people. Further research and continuous data collection are needed to confirm the distribution of pathogenic KPF.