Trichophyton mentagrophytes is a species in the fungal genus Trichophyton. It is one of three common fungi which cause ringworm in companion animals. It is also the second-most commonly isolated fungus causing tinea infections in humans, and the most common or one of the most common fungi that cause zoonotic skin disease. Trichophyton mentagrophytes is frequently isolated from dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodents, though at least some genetic variants possess the potential of human-to-human transmission, e.g. Type VII and Type VIII. As of 2024 it is an emerging STD in men who have sex with men.
Along with closely related T. interdigitale, the species has been traditionally treated as a part of polyphyletic assemblage, named "T. mentagrophytes sensu lato". From 1999 to 2017 the two species have been collectively referred to as T. interdigitale, while the name "T. mentagrophytes" has been used for current T. quinckeanum. Trichophyton interdigitale seems to be strictly anthropophilic, and is associated with foot and nail infections.
Trichophyton mentagrophytes is capable of mating.[1] This species is also able to undergo meiosis.[2] The haploid chromosome complement of T. mentagrophytes is four. The fusion of haploid nuclei (karyogamy) preceding meiosis occurs in the penultimate cell of a typical crozier, an anatomical feature of the sexual phase of many fungi in the Division Ascomycota.
Trichophyton mentagrophytes is one of three common fungi which cause ringworm in companion animals and frequently isolated from dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodents.
It is the most common or one of the most common fungi that cause zoonotic skin disease (i.e., transmission of mycotic skin disease from species to species).
While it is considered a zoophilic species, it is also the second-most commonly isolated fungus causing tinea infections in humans, and at least some genetic variants possess the potential of human-to-human transmission, e.g. Type VII and Type VIII.
Since 2002 cases were reported in Nigerian sex workers, in 2021 in men who have sex with men in France and as of 2024 in New York City.[3]
Particular genetic variants of the fungus have distinct geographic ranges.
For studies on the epidemiology of T. mentagrophytes, two molecular strain typing techniques are available. The first one is based upon amplification of nontranscribed spacer of ribosomal DNA, and the second one involves a comparison of internal transcribed spacer sequences within defined boundaries.
In T. mentagrophytes, antifungal drug resistance is mainly associated with Type VIII isolates. Drug-resistant T. mentagrophytes strains have been found in many places across Asia and Europe. India is the most affected country, with the rate of microbiological resistance to terbinafine estimated at 11.4%. There are also reports on terbinafine-resistant Type II isolates from Japan and Denmark.