Case report. First report on human ringworm caused by Arthroderma benhamiae in Japan transmitted from a rabbit

Two human cases of tinea corporis due to Arthroderma benhamiae (teleomorph of Trichophyton mentagrophytes) were described. They acquired the infection from their cross-bred rabbit. The three clinical isolates from a human couple and a pet rabbit had been identified as A. benhamiae by chitin synthase 1 (CHS1) gene analysis as well as by mating experiments. There was no previous isolate of A. benhamiae from humans in Japan, although we had reported the first isolate of A. benhamiae from a rabbit in 1998. Therefore, this is the first report on human ringworm cases caused by A. benhamiae in Japan. It is anticipated that the human and animal cases of A. benhamiae infection could rise in number.