Rare zoonotic infection with Microsporum persicolor with literature review

We report a case of dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum persicolor in a 38-year-old male from Poland. Direct microscopic examination revealed high amounts of fungal hyphae from the right elbow material. The mould recovered in multiple cultures was identified as Microsporum persicolor by molecular identification based on partial of β-tubulin gene (BT2), internal transcribed spacer, partial small ribosomal subunit (SSU) and large ribosomal subunit, partial translation elongation factor (TEF1) and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB1) loci sequence data. The patient was treated with terbinafine. Clinical and mycological cure was achieved with this regimen and the patient was subsequently followed for 1 year without relapse. Microsporum persicolor is a very rare causative agent of dermatophytosis worldwide. The source of infection for the patient remained unclear and zoonotic transmission could not be confirmed.