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Detection of emerging genotypes in Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex: A proposal for handling biodiversity
Chao Tang1,2, Sarah A Ahmed2, Shuwen Deng3
1The key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education of Guizhou and Key Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
Abstract:
A resistant and hypervirulent dermatophyte from India has been described as a taxonomic novelty, Trichophyton indotineae, a species of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex. Rapid detection and correct identification of closely similar dermatophytes with different predilections are essential for efficient clinical management. We evaluated the efficacy of rapid diagnostic methods clinical and environmental strains in the T. mentagrophytes complex. The methods included Real-time-PCR, DermaGenius, LAMP, and MALDI-ToF MS, using rDNA ITS sequences as taxonomic standard. The results show that only MALDI-ToF MS can distinguish 96.97% T. indotineae from other closely related species. The complex comprises numerous clones which may differ in anonymous markers but with similar evolutionary behavior. Therefore, we recommend to distinguish species only when they show an appreciable degree of adaptation and thus are clinically significant. The distinction of remaining clonal diversity is an epidemiological query and can be solved by haplotype numbering.
Insights
A new fungal species, Trichophyton indotineae, was identified. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS) is the most effective method for its rapid and accurate clinical diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- A novel resistant and hypervirulent dermatophyte, *Trichophyton indotineae*, has been identified in India, belonging to the *Trichophyton mentagrophytes* complex.
- Accurate and rapid identification of closely related dermatophytes is crucial for effective patient management due to differing clinical presentations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of various rapid methods for identifying clinical and environmental strains within the *T. mentagrophytes* complex.
- To determine the most effective method for distinguishing *T. indotineae* from other closely related species.
Main Methods:
- Real-time PCR
- DermaGenius
- Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)
- Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS)
- Ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (rDNA ITS) sequencing as the taxonomic standard.
Main Results:
- MALDI-ToF MS demonstrated the highest accuracy, distinguishing *T. indotineae* from related species in 96.97% of cases.
- The *T. mentagrophytes* complex contains numerous clones with similar evolutionary patterns, despite potential differences in anonymous markers.
- Species delineation should prioritize clinically significant adaptations rather than minor clonal variations.
Conclusions:
- MALDI-ToF MS is recommended for the reliable differentiation of *T. indotineae* in clinical settings.
- Distinguishing clonal diversity within the complex is an epidemiological concern best addressed through haplotype numbering.
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