On the taxonomy of dermatophytes belonging to the Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex

Pchelin I.M., Sergeev A.Y.

Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
All-Russian National Academy of Mycology, Moscow, Russia

The fungi from the Trichophyton mentagrophytes / T. interdigitale species complex are the prevalent causative agents of skin and hair disease in humans and other mammals. Here we review lines of evidence supporting the recognition of three independent species within the complex in the light of more recent contradicting data and conclude that none of them are satisfactory. While ITS region genotyping appears to be more reasonable when compared to species identification, the knowledge on epidemiological sources, regional distribution and antifungal drug resistance of T. mentagrophytes / T. interdigitale genetic lineages is still incomplete.