In this work, we report a quick-witted vacuum cleaner tape technique for sampling of keratinophilic fungi from floor dust samples in hostel rooms. As substantiated by partial identification through routine mycological methods and monographs, the isolates recovered belonged to four major keratinophilic fungi viz. HTP4 (Epidermophyton spp), HTP2 (Microsporum spp), HTP7 (Chrysosporium spp) and HTP6 (Trichophyton spp). It was fascinating to note that the above isolates were predominantly present in floor dust samples of student hostels. An overview of enzymatic potential of these isolates revealed that isolates HTP2 (Microsporum spp), HTP3 (Chrysosporium spp) and HTP7 (Chrysosporium spp) displayed both amylase and protease activity whereas isolate HTP4 (Epidermophyton spp) displayed protease activity. Such studies serve as a decisive inventory towards developing guidelines for maintaining health and hygiene among inhabitants in student hostels and further to make them receptive towards infections caused by these fungi. This technique provides a superior tool for air sampling and documenting the microbial load of floor dust of these locations.
Keratinophilic fungi, Student hostels, Dermatophytes, Vacuum cleaner tape technique
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