Genetic Analysis of Familial Onset of Trichophyton rubrum Infection

• Published in: Medical Mycology Journal Vol. 66; no. 2; pp. 69 - 74
• Main Authors: Shimizu, Akira, Anzawa, Kazushi, Takeda, Kiminobu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society for Medical Mycology 01.01.2025; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Arthrodermataceae; DNA, Fungal - chemistry; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics; familial outbreak; Female; Genetic analysis; Humans; internal transcribed spacer; Male; non-transcribed spacer; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Restriction fragment length polymorphism; ribosomal RNA gene; rRNA; Spacer region; Tinea - diagnosis; Tinea - microbiology; Tinea - transmission; Tinea corporis; Tinea pedis; Trichophyton - classification; Trichophyton - genetics; Trichophyton - isolation & purification; Trichophyton rubrum; Trichophyton rubrum; non-transcribed spacer; familial outbreak; internal transcribed spacer; ribosomal RNA gene
• ISSN: 2185-6486; 2186-165X
• DOI: 10.3314/mmj.24-00022

We encountered a case of familial infection of Trichophyton rubrum infection affecting five of six cohabiting family members: father, tinea pedis; mother tinea corporis; first son tinea pedis; second son tinea corporis; and third son tinea corporis. We conducted mycological culture observations from each member’s lesions and performed genetic analysis of the ribosomal RNA genes of the detected T. rubrum strains using ITS-PCR-RFLP and non-transcribed spacer region analysis. Based on the results, we investigated the source and route of infection. Our findings suggest that the T. rubrum infection within the household was not solely due to a single infected individual.