| Abstrakt: |
Keratinophilic fungi have been isolated from 546 (97.8%) of 558 samples of feathers from domestic fowls in southern Queensland. "Chrysosporium" spp. (from 84.8%), Ctenomyas serratus or its conidial state (76.5%), Petalosporus sp. (28.1%) and Arthroderma tuberculatum or its conidial state (17.6%) were the main fungi recorded. Smaller numbers of 14 other keratinophilic species were also detected. Variations in the keratinophilic fungi isolated from different fowls in the same yard and from various yards in the same locality have been examined.The keratinophilic species recorded on fowl feathers are compared with those isolated from animal fur and feathers of wild birds. Most species were more abundant on the fowl feathers, whereas Arthroderma curreyi, Arthroderma cuniculi and Nannizzia cajetani were not recorded from fowls. These species are probably relatively poor competitors where high soil keratin levels occur. The amount of keratin available and the pH appear to be important in determining the numbers and types of keratinophilic fungi isolated from a particular source. |
