ISOLATION OF KERATINOLYTIC FUNGI FROM A COAL-MINE DUMP

During the study of fungal succesion in the coal mine dump in Brzezink a (Poland), soil samples were examined for keratinolytic fungi. These micro-organisms were rather poorly represented in the area studied. Ou t of 300 soil samples examined, only 48 (16%) were positive for kerati nolytic fungi. Trichophyton ajelloi and Arthroderma curreyi were the p revailing species. These species occurred practically at two locations , i.e. on the naked carbon rocks inhabited by algae crops (chiefly by Cyanophyta) and in the pine litter. It can be supposed that the occurr ence of keratinolytic fungi was more dependent on the favourable gener al conditions such as increasing organic matter content, microflora, a nd humidity than on the presence of keratin remains in the soil. Becau se of the lack of potentially pathogenic fungi, the coal mine dump exa mined cannot be considered as an important source of fungal infection.