Pathogenic and Potentially Pathogenic Fungi Isolated from Beach Sands and Selected Soils of Oahu, Hawaii

SUMMARY

Fungi capable of causing mycoses in man are known to occur in many types of soils and natural habitats, but their occurrence in Hawaii has not been studied comprehensively to date. Two known sources served as the basis for this initial Hawaiian survey: 1) sands taken from beaches of low and high swimmer-density and, 2) soils associated with avian droppings. A total of 361 sand samples representing Oahu's supra-tidal and intertidal zones was screened. More pathogenic or potentially pathogenic fungi were isolated from areas where the swimmer-density was very high and, conversely, few were isolated from low swimmer-density areas. Fifty-four colonies of these fungi were isolated. Among them were 10 genera with 13 species, including notably Candida albicans, Cladosporium werneckii, Epidermophyton floccosum, Geotrichum candidum, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Nocardia asteroides, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and Trichosporon cutancum.

Sixty-one isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans were obtained from 170 bird droppings associated with major types of soils present on Oahu. Forty-three isolates were recovered on diphenyl agar and 33 by mouse inoculation. In the latter group 18 were not recovered on diphenyl agar and IS isolates were obtained from mice sacrificed after 6 weeks. Histoplasma capsulatum was not isolated.