Fifty soil samples were collected from refuse dumps, animal sheds, farm lands, drainage sites and
barbers’ shops at Gwagwalada, FCT-Abuja and screened for the presence of keratinase- producing fungi by Hair
Bait Technique using chicken feather as keratin bait. A total of 51 fungal isolates belonging to two genera and four
species of keratinase- producing fungi were observed. Sixteen (31.37 %) of the isolates were from refuse dumps,
animal sheds and barbers’ shops, both have 11 (21.57 %) isolates each, while farmlands and drainage sites have 10
(19.61 %) and 3 (5.88 %) isolates respectively. Aspergillus niger (van Teigh) 17 (33.33 %) was the most abundant
species, followed by Penicillium chrysogenum (Thom) 13 (25.49 %), Aspergillus flavus (Link ex Fr.) 12 (23.53 %)
and Penicillium marneffei (Hubert) 9 (17.65 %) being the least in abundance. The highest keratinase activities were
recorded in Aspergillus niger (14.56±1.54 Keratinase unit (Ku)/ml), Penicillium marneffei (13.18±2.19 ku/ml),
Penicillium chrysogenum (12.56±2.75 ku/ml) and Aspergillus flavus (11.93±1.80 ku/ml). The rate of prevalence and
the quantity of enzymes produced are significantly different (P = 0.05). These non-dermatophytic keratinolytic fungi
have potential use in biotechnological processes involving keratin hydrolysis. The results of this work revealed that
keratinolytic activity is relatively widespread among common fungi and may have an important role in keratin
degradation in the natural environment.