Prevalence of non-keratinophilic fungi in the soil.

Majority of the fungi producing diseases in man and animals exist freely in nature as soil saprophytes or plant pathogens and gain entrance into the body through abrasion, implantation or inhalation. Adametz isolated fungi for the first time from the soil in the year 1886, since then there has been very few reports. Manipal and surrounding places being coastal areas, experience heavy rainfall with high atmospheric humidity which is most suitable for fungal growth. Soil with natural bamboo habitat in nearby Western ghats with rat burrows predisposes the fungal growth in the area.