Molecular epidemiology of Trichophyton tonsurans, the causative dermatophyte of the epidemic of tinea gladiatorum in Japan between 2011 and 2015.

Molecular epidemiology of Trichophyton tonsurans, the causative dermatophyte of the epidemic of tinea gladiatorum in Japan between 2011 and 2015. Jpn J Infect Dis. 2018 Feb 28;: Authors: Sakata Y, Ushigami T, Anzawa K, Mochizuki T Abstract Trichophyton tonsurans, a major pathogen of tinea capitis and tinea corporis, has been isolated from players of contact sports in Japan. To understand the contemporary epidemic in Japan, the molecular types of 208 strains isolated between 2011 and 2015 were determined. Of these, 142 were isolated from practitioners of judo, 28 from wrestlers, seven from sumo wrestlers, and 31 from individuals with unknown backgrounds. Based on length polymorphisms of the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region of the ribosomal RNA gene, these 208 strains could be divided into three subtypes, NTS I(204; 98.1%), II (three; 1.4%), and III(one; 0.5%). Additionally, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and deletion/insertion profiles in the NTS region, length polymorphisms of the alkaline protease 1 gene, and a SNP in the carboxypeptidase Y gene were determined in 50 of NTS I strains isolated between 2011 and 2015, and in 10 strains isolated before 2005. All 60 strains were classified as the same molecular type, with a profile identical to that of type I b, a major type in the United States. These results indicated that NTS I strains isolated in Japan are clonal, irrespective of the type of sports activity. PMID: ...
Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Jpn J Infect Dis Source Type: research