Trichophyton indotineae

Anthrophilic clone of Tr. mentagrophytes (Tr. mentagrophytes IST genotype VIII). It has been described as a new pathogen of highly inflammatory tinea cruris and tinea corporis in India. Transmission occurs through physical contact or through contaminated clothing or bed linen (Kano R et al. 2020). Since 2020, this "clonal offshot" of T. mentagrophytes has been classified as a new species. This species is predominantly terbinafine-resistant. Characteristic and responsible for terbinafine resistance are missense mutations of the squalene epoxidase gene (SQLE/primarily F397L and L393F amino acid substitutions).

In the Indian subcontinent, Trichophyton indotineae is spreading like an epidemic. With globalization, this"emerging pathogen" is spreading further around the world.

A new genotype of Tr. mentagrophytes as the cause of purulent-abscessing tinea pubogenitalis has been observed for several years after trips to Southeast Asia - Tr. mentagrophytes International Transcribed Spacer (IST) genotype VII. Transmission is not zoophilic, but anthrophilic, exclusively from person to person. This pathogen is also the cause of an STI.

1. Kupsch C det al. (2019) Trichophyton mentagrophytes - a new genotype of the zoophilic dermatophyte causes sexually transmitted infections. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 17:493-502.
2. Nenoff P. et al. (2024) Old fungi in a new guise- a challenge in diagnostics and therapy. JDDg 20-913-915