KERATIN DEGRADATION BY SCYTALIDIUM SPECIES AND FUSARIUM-SOLANI

The keratin degradation capability of some non-dermatophytic filamento us fungi, viz Scytalidium dimidiatum types A and B, S. hyalinum, S. ja ponicum and Fusarium solani, was investigated using nail clippings and keratin powder as substrates. Representative isolates of the dermatop hytes Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes were also tested. The two morphological types of S. dimidiatum were almost equally effective in the degradation of substrates, 42-43% nail clippings and 24-26% ke ratin. Scytalidium hyalinum and S. japonicum degraded 40% and 38% of n ail clippings respectively. Degradation of keratin was insignificant. In the case of F. solani, nail clippings were degraded 43% and keratin 20%. The dermatophytes caused much higher degradation of nail clippin gs (70-73%) and keratin (42-52%).