title: [Keratinophilic fungi in soils of parks of Corrientes city, Argentina].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The soil is a natural reservoir of keratinophilic fungi, which are a small but important group of filamentous fungi, some of which typically develop on keratinized tissues of living animals. There are numerous species of saprophytic fungi with recognized keratinophilic abilities, and several studies have been undertaken in order to link their presence to possible human disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To know the biota of geophilic fungi in general and of keratinophilic fungi particularly in soils from two public parks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Soil samples from two public parks of Corrientes city, Argentina, were studied during two seasons, using the hook technique and serial dilutions for fungal isolation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the hook technique, 170 isolates were classified into 17 genera and 21 species, among which it is worth mentioning the presence of Microsporum canis. Shannon index for keratinophilic fungi in autumn was 2.27, and 1.92 in spring. By means of the serial dilutions technique, 278 fungi isolated were identified into 33 genera and 71 species. Shannon index in autumn was 3.9, and 3.5 in spring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The soils studied have particularly favorable conditions for the survival of pathogens and opportunistic geophilic fungi for humans and animals.
authors.affiliation: Área de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Mercedes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.affiliation: Área de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mangiaterra
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Microbiología General, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Viviana
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Bojanich
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario de Estudios Microbiológicos y Parasitológicos, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Juan Ángel
authors.initials: JÁ
authors.lastname: Basualdo
authors.affiliation: Área de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina. Electronic address: gustavogiusiano@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giusiano
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000068316:Parks, Recreational; D012621:Seasons; D012988:Soil Microbiology
keywords: Geophilic fungi; Hongos geófilos; Hongos queratinofílicos; Keratinophilic fungi; Soils; Suelos