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Which Fungus Originally was Trichophyton mentagrophytes? Historical Review and Illustration by a Clinical Case

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Abstract

Several dermatophytes producing numerous pyriform or round microconidia were called Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Among these dermatophytes are the teleomorph species Arthroderma benhamiae, Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii and Arthroderma simii, and other species such as Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton erinacei and Trichophyton quinckeanum for which only the anamorph is known. Confusion exists about which fungus should be really called T. mentagrophytes and about the rational use of this name in practice. We report a case of beard ringworm (tinea barbae) with A. vanbreuseghemii. According to both clinical signs and the type of hair parasitism, this case was exactly compatible to the first description of a non-favic dermatophytosis by Gruby under the name of “mentagrophyte” from which was derived the dermatophyte epithet mentagrophytes. In addition, the phenotypic characters of the isolated fungus in cultures perfectly matched with those of the first description of a dermatophyte under T. mentagrophytes by Blanchard (Parasites animaux et parasites végétaux à l’exclusion des Bactéries, Masson, Paris, 1896). In conclusion, T. mentagrophytes corresponds to the fungus later named A. vanbreuseghemii. However, because the neotype of T. mentagrophytes was not adequately designated in regard to the ancient literature, we would privilege the use of A. vanbreuseghemii and abandon the name of T. mentagrophytes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Mycologie, BT422, Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Annemay Chollet, Marina Fratti & Michel Monod

  2. Dermatology Private Practice, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Vincent Cattin

  3. Veterinary Mycology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B-43 Sart-Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Bernard Mignon

Authors
  1. Annemay Chollet
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  2. Vincent Cattin
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  3. Marina Fratti
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  4. Bernard Mignon
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  5. Michel Monod
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Correspondence to Michel Monod.

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Chollet, A., Cattin, V., Fratti, M. et al. Which Fungus Originally was Trichophyton mentagrophytes? Historical Review and Illustration by a Clinical Case. Mycopathologia 180, 1–5 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-015-9893-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-015-9893-2

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