Chrysosporium tropicum

C. tropicum is a potent keratinophilic filamentous fungus that uses keratin as a substrate for its degradation. Animal hair, poultry feathers, wools, horns, hoofs, nails, cornified epridermis are the major sources of keratin. This fungus is found mainly in soil, plant material, dung, and bird feathers. It works both as important (a keratinophilic saprophyte ) and pathogenic fungus. It degrades various unsoluable keratinous waste into soluable low molecular weight components. It not only degrades the wastes hairs etc. but also a reason of hair loss in humans.

Characteristics
Shape and Size
Conidia are typical pyriform to clavate with truncate bases in shape, 6  7 µm to 3.5 - 4 µm in size
Genome Information
genome not found
Food Source
contaminated water
Pathological Factor
Breakdown of the skin-cerumen barrier is the first step in the pathogenesis of external otitis. Inflammation and edema of the skin then leads to pruritus and obstruction. The pruritus prompts scratching that may create further injury. This sequence of events alters the quality and amount of cerumen produced, impairs epithelial migration, and increases the pH of the ear canal. The resulting dark, warm, alkaline, moist ear canal becomes an ideal breeding ground for numerous organisms.
Disease
Otomycosis, onychomycosis
Symptoms
Mild pain & itching in the ear, skin infection, hair loss
Affected Body Organs
skin

Classification
Kingdom Fungi
Division Ascomycota
Class Eurotiomycetes
Order Onygenales
Family onygenaceae
Genus Chrysosporium
Species C.tropicum