ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Examination of Keratinolytic and Associated
Non-Keratinolytic Fungi in Sewage Sludge
K. Ulfig1, G. Płaza2, K. Janda-Ulfig3, S. Jastrzębska1
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1Division of Biomaterials and Microbiological Technologies, Polymer Institute, Szczecin University of Technology,
Polymer Institute, Pułaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland
2Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, Kossutha 6, 40-844 Katowice, Poland
3Department of Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology, Agriculture University of Szczecin,
Słowackiego 17, 71-434 Szczecin, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2009;18(6):1163-1169
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ABSTRACT
Sewage sludge is frequently applied to land. It has been shown, however, that sludges contain many toxic
components and pathogenic organisms. Keratinolytic and associated non-keratinolytic fungi are considered
potentially pathogenic. Our knowledge on the incidence of the fungi in the sludge environment is still insufficient.
Sludge from the Bytom-Miechowice wastewater treatment plant in Upper Silesia, Poland, was examined.
The objective of the study was to compare fungal compositions in the sludge using three methods:
(1) dilution pour plating method
(2) hair-baiting method, and
(3) most probable number method.
The MPN method combined sludge dilution in sterile clay or sand and hair-baiting techniques. Actidioneresistant
fungi were examined in the sludge. The dilution pour plating method provided poor data on the incidence
of keratinolytic fungi, while using the method more information was obtained on non-keratinolytic fungi
in the sludge. Subsequently, the conventional hair-baiting method provided extensive data on the growth of
fungi in the hair spread over the sludge, but the method did not allow determining fungal quantities. Such quantities
were obtained by means of the MPN method. The method complemented results obtained with two other
methods. The ecological and epidemiological significance of MPN values was discussed.