Characterization of keratinophilic fungal species and other non-dermatophytes in hair and nails samples in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The presence of fungal species on the surface skin and hair is a known finding in many mammalian species and humans are no exception. Superficial fungal infections are sometimes a chronic and recurring condition that affects approximately 10–20 % of the world’s population. However, most species that are isolated from human tend to occur as co-existing flora. This study was conducted to determine the diversity of fungal species isolated from the hair and nails of workers in the central region of Saudi Arabia where there are not many observational studies on the mycological species. Male workers from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were recruited for this study and samples were obtained from their nails and hair for mycological analysis which was done using Saboraud’s agar and sterile wet soil. Fungal isolates were examined microscopically. Twenty four hair samples yielded a total of 26 species from 19 fungal genera. Chaetomium globosum was the most commonly isolated fungal species followed by Emericella nidulans, Cochliobolus neergaardii and Penicillium oxalicum. Three fungal species were isolated from nail samples, namely, Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans and Penicillium chrysogenum. Most of the isolated fungal species (17 of the 26 or 65.38 % of the isolated fungal species). Most of our isolated fungal species have not been thoroughly characterised nor morphologically classified.