Abstract
Dermatophytes are causing superficial mycosis in animals and humans. Depending on the geophilic, zoophilic or anthropophilic origin of the fungus but also on the immunological status of the patient, symptomatology can widely differ. Nevertheless, each species is currently associated with typical clinical manifestations, even if atypical localizations and/or clinical pictures are sometimes also reported. Diagnostic tools applied to species identification have been changing since the last two decades with the more frequent use of molecular methods currently considered nowadays as reference methods for species identification. It becomes obvious that the algorithm used for the distinction of closely related species needs to combine phenotypic and genomic methods. All these different points are discussed, and the most recent novel species causing or involved in human dermatophytosis are reported.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Seebacher C, Bouchara JP, Mignon B. Updates on the epidemiology of dermatophyte infections. Mycopathologia. 2008;166:335–52.
Hayette M-P, Sacheli R. Dermatophytosis, trends in epidemiology and diagnostic approach. Curr Fungal Infect Rep. 2015;9:164–79.
Detandt M, Planard C, Verstraeten C, Nolard N. Tinea capitis in nurseries and schools: an epidemiological survey. Mycoses. 2002;45:11–12.
García-Martos P, Ruiz-Aragón J, García-Agudo L, Linares M. Dermatophytoses due to Microsporum gypseum: report of eight cases and literature review. Rev Iberoamer Micol. 2004;21:147.
Brasch J, Gräser Y. Trichophyton eboreum sp. nov. isolated from human skin. J Clin Microbiol. 2005;43:5230–7.
Campbell CK, Borman AM, Linton CJ, Bridge PD, Johnson EM. Arthroderma olidum, sp. nov. A new addition to the Trichophyton terrestre complex. Med Mycol. 2006;44:451–9.
Choi JS, Gräser Y, Walther G, et al. Microsporum mirabile and its teleomorph, a new dermatophyte species in the clade. Med Mycol. 2012;50:161–9.
Hubka V, Dobiasova S, Dobias R, Kolarik M. Microsporum aenigmaticum sp. nov. from M. gypseum complex, isolated as a cause of tinea corporis. Med Mycol. 2014;52:387–96.
Hubka V, Nissen CV, Jensen RH, et al. Discovery of a sexual stage in Trichophyton onychocola, a presumed geophilic dermatophyte isolated from toenails of patients with a history of T. rubrum onychomycosis. Med Mycol. 2015;53:798–809.
Keller MC, French LE, Hofbauer GFL, Bosshard PP. Erythematous skin macules with isolation of Trichophyton eboreum—infection or colonisation? Mycoses. 2013;56:373–5.
Peano A, Tizzani P, Gallo M, et al. Dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton verrucosum in a chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Eur J Wild Res. 2008;54:153–6.
Calderaro A, Motta F, Montecchini S, et al. Identification of dermatophyte species after implementation of the in-house MALDI-TOF MS database. Int J Mol Sci. 2014;15:16012–24.
Hubka V, Cmokova A, Skorepova M, Mikula P, Kolarik M. Trichophyton onychocola sp. nov. isolated from human nail. Med Mycol. 2014;52:285–92.
Elavarashi E, Kindo AJ, Kalyani J. Optimization of PCR-RFLP directly from the skin and nails in cases of dermatophytosis, targeting the ITS and the 18S ribosomal DNA Regions. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013;7:646–51.
Sitterlé E, Fréalle E, Foulet F, et al. Trichophyton bullosum: a new zoonotic dermatophyte species. Med Mycol. 2012;50:305–9.
Lyskova P, Hubka V, Cmokova A, et al. Equine dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton bullosum, a poorly known zoophilic dermatophyte masquerading as T. verrucosum. Mycopathologia. 2015;180:407–19.
Miyasato H, Yamaguchi S, Taira K, et al. Tinea corporis caused by Microsporum gallinae: first clinical case in Japan. J Dermatol. 2011;38:473–8.
Sabou M, Boulanger N, Ganel S, et al. Émergence d’un dermatophyte proche de Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei et inféodé au cochon d’inde: description de sept cas diagnostiqués au CHU de Strasbourg entre novembre 2010 et octobre 2011. J Mycol Méd. 2012;22:114.
Rhee DY, Kim MS, Chang SE, et al. A case of tinea manuum caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei: the first isolation in Korea. Mycoses. 2009;52:287–90.
Mochizuki T, Takeda K, Nakagawa M, et al. The first isolation in Japan of Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei causing tinea manuum. Int J Dermatol. 2005;44:765–8.
Lee DW, Yang JH, Choi SJ, et al. An unusual clinical presentation of tinea faciei caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei. Pediatr Dermatol. 2011;28:210–2.
Concha M, Nicklas C, Balcells E, et al. The first case of tinea faciei caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei isolated in Chile. Int J Dermatol. 2012;51:283–5.
Charlent AL, Bloch M, Nowak N, et al. Trichophyton mentagrophytes variété porcellae nouvel agent d’épidémie de teigne chez le cochon d’inde: enquête dans des animaleries. J Mycol Med. 2014;24:e76.
Contet-Audonneau N, Leyer C. Émergence d’un dermatophyte transmis par le cochon d’Inde et proche de Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei: T. mentagrophytes var. porcellae. J Mycol Méd. 2010;20:321–5.
Ranganathan S, Menon T, Balajee SA. Isolation of Microsporum nanum from a patient with tinea corporis in Madras, India. Mycoses. 1997;40:229–30.
Ratka P, Slusarczyk E, Sloboda T, Kusmierski W. [Case of tinea barbae profunda caused by Microsporum nanum]. Przegl Dermatol. 1983;70:549–52.
Sinski JT, Flouras K. A survey of dermatophytes isolated from human patients in the United States from 1979 to 1981 with chronological listings of worldwide incidence of five dermatophytes often isolated in the United States. Mycopathologia. 1984;85:97–120.
Ratka P. Microsporid gonitis caused by Microsporum nanum. Mycopathologia. 1985;92:45–7.
Wu SX, Zhu WY, Xia MY, Huang L. Tinea capitis caused by Microsporum nanum. Chin Med J (Engl). 1987;100:709–11.
Ponnighaus JM, Warndorff D, Port G. Microsporum nanum—a report from Malawi (Africa). Mycoses. 1995;38:149–50.
Martinez E, Ameen M, Tejada D, Arenas R. Microsporum spp. onychomycosis: disease presentation, risk factors and treatment responses in an urban population. Braz J Infect Dis. 2014;18:181–6.
Rezaei-Matehkolaei A, Makimura K, Graser Y, et al. Dermatophytosis due to Microsporum incurvatum: notification and identification of a neglected pathogenic species. Mycopathologia. 2016;181:107–13.
Nouripour-Sisakht S, Rezaei-Matehkolaei A, Abastabar M, et al. Microsporum fulvum, an ignored pathogenic dermatophyte: a new clinical isolation from Iran. Mycopathologia. 2013;176:157–60.
Borelli D. Microsporum racemosum nova species. Acta Med Venez. 1965;12:148–51.
de Albornoz MB, Lopez CA, Alfonso N. Primer caso de tinea corporis por el Microsporum racemosum (Dante Borelli, 1965). Derm Venez. 1972;11:310–8.
Daum V, McCloud D. Microsporum racemosum: first isolation in the United States. Mycopathologia. 1976;59:183–5.
Rippon JW, Andrews TW. Microsporum racemosum. Second clinical isolation from the United States and the Chicago area. Mycopathologia. 1978;64:187–90.
Garcia-Martos P, Gene J, Sole M, et al. Case of onychomycosis caused by Microsporum racemosum. J Clin Microbiol. 1999;37:258–60.
Luque AG, Biasoli MS, Sortino MA, Lupo SH, Bussy RF. Atypical tinea corporis caused by Microsporum gypseum in a subject with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2001;15:374–5.
Sun PL, Ho HT. Concentric rings: an unusual presentation of tinea corporis caused by Microsporum gypseum. Mycoses. 2006;49:150–1.
Miranda MF, de Brito AC, Zaitz C, de Carvalho TN, Carneiro FR. Microsporum gypseum infection showing a white-paint-dot appearance. Int J Dermatol. 1998;37:956–7.
Vollekova A, Tothova I, Kolibasova K, Sevcekova A, Baumgartner J. [Atypical infection caused by Microsporum gypseum mimicking circumscribed scleroderma]. Bratisl Lek Listy. 1996;97:162–4.
Romano C, Ghilardi A, Fimiani M. Dystrophic onychomycosis due to Microsporum gypseum. Mycoses. 2006;49:335–7.
Romano C, Asta F, Massai L. Tinea incognito due to Microsporum gypseum in three children. Pediatr Dermatol. 2000;17:41–4.
Qianggiang Z, Limo Q, Jiajun W, Li L. Report of two cases of tinea infection with scutula-like lesions caused by Microsporum gypseum. Int J Dermatol. 2002;41:372–3.
Polilli E, Fazii P, Ursini T, et al. Tinea incognito caused by Microsporum gypseum in a patient with advanced HIV infection: a case report. Case Rep Dermatol. 2011;3:55–9.
Joly J, Delage G, Auger P, Ricard P. Favus: twenty indigenous cases in the province of Quebec. Arch Dermatol. 1978;114:1647–8.
Niczyporuk W, Krajewska-Kulak E, Lukaszuk C. Tinea capitis favosa in Poland. Mycoses. 2004;47:257–60.
Krunic AL, Cetner A, Tesic V, Janda WM, Worobec S. Atypical favic invasion of the scalp by Microsporum canis: report of a case and review of reported cases caused by Microsporum species. Mycoses. 2007;50:156–9.
Alanio A, Romand S, Penso-Assathiany D, Foulet F, Botterel F. Microsporum praecox: molecular identification of a new case and review of the literature. Mycopathologia. 2011;171:61–5.
Sanchez-Castellanos ME, Mayorga-Rodriguez JA, Sandoval-Tress C, Hernandez-Torres M. Tinea incognito due to Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Mycoses. 2007;50:85–7.
Calcaterra R, Fazio R, Mirisola C, Baggi L. Rosacea-like tinea incognito due to Trichophyton mentagrophytes vr. mentagrophytes. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2013;21:263–4.
Buruiana AM, Mihali CV, Popescu C. Sequence-based identification of a zoophilic strain of Trichophyton interdigitale in a rare case of tinea blepharo-ciliaris associated with tinea barbae. Mycopathologia. 2015;180:403–6.
Cafarchia C, Iatta R, Latrofa MS, Gräser Y, Otranto D. Molecular epidemiology, phylogeny and evolution of dermatophytes. Infect Genet Evol. 2013;20:336–51.
Chollet A, Cattin V, Fratti M, Mignon B, Monod M. Which fungus originally was Trichophyton mentagrophytes? Historical review and illustration by a clinical case. Mycopathologia. 2015;180:1–5.
Carlsen BC. A case of tinea pedis due to Trichophyton tonsurans. Int J Vet Med Res Rep. 2013;. doi:10.5171/2013.204515.
Kumar S, Kamra N, Mahajan B. Tinea pseudomibricata due to Trichophyton mentagrophytes: a rare case report. J Pak Assoc Dermatol. 2015;25:151–3.
Fernandes S, Amaro C, da Luz MM, et al. Kerion caused by Microsporum audouinii in a child. Med Mycol Case Rep. 2013;2:52–4.
Brasch J, Muller S, Graser Y. Unusual strains of Microsporum audouinii causing tinea in Europe. Mycoses. 2015;58:573–7.
Brasch J, Hugel R, Lipowsky F, Graser Y. Tinea corporis caused by an unusual strain of Microsporum audouinii that perforates hair in vitro. Mycoses. 2010;53:360–2.
Huovinen S, Tunnela E, Huovinen P, Kuijpers AF, Suhonen R. Human onychomycosis caused by Trichophyton equinum transmitted from a racehorse. Br J Dermatol. 1998;138:1082–4.
Mapelli ET, Colombo L, Crespi E, Menni S. Toenail onychomycosis due to Trichophyton violaceum complex. (An unusual, emerging localization of this anthropophilic dermatophyle). Mycoses. 2012;55:193–4.
Khanna D, Goel A, Kedar A, Manchanda V, Agarwal S. Trichophyton tonsurans induced recurrent onychomadesis in a very young infant. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30:390–1.
Macura AB, Krzysciak P, Skora M, Gniadek A. Case report: onychomycosis due to Trichophyton schoenleinii. Mycoses. 2012;55:e18–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hayette, MP., Sacheli, R. Unusual Species of Dermatophytes: Rarely Identified or New?. Mycopathologia 182, 203–213 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-016-0066-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-016-0066-8