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.