The isolation of keratinophilic fungi from soils in Israel. A preliminary report.

One hundred and fourteen soil samples collected from various areas of Israel were screened for the presence of keratinophilic fungi. Five species were isolated from the 59 positive samples, viz: C. keratinophilum--22 strains, C. evolceanui--18, C. serratus Eidam--10, M. gypseum--T. terrestre--4. Most of the geophilic organisms were recovered from garden soil, road-side and sandy-soil specimens. The importance of these findings is briefly discussed.