<i>Notes from the Field: Trichophyton mentagrophytes</i> Genotype VII — New York City, April–July 2024
Jason Zucker, Avrom S. Caplan, Shauna Gunaratne, Stephanie M. Gallitano, John G. Zampella, Caitlin Otto, Rachel Sally, Sudha Chaturvedi, Brittany O’Brien, Gabrielle C. Todd, Priyanka Anand, Laura A.S. Quilter, Dallas J. Smith, Tom Chiller, Shawn R. Lockhart, Meghan Lyman, Preeti Pathela, Jeremy A.W. Gold
Abstract
Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII) is an emerging dermatophyte fungus, causing tinea that can be spread through sexual contact (1).TMVII can cause pruritic, annular, scaly lesions on the trunk, groin, genitals, or face; might be mistaken for eczema, psoriasis, or other dermatologic conditions; and frequently requires oral antifungal therapy. Some patients experience inflamed, painful, and persistent lesions that can lead to scarring or secondary bacterial infection.TMVII infections have been reported among men who have sex with men in France since March 2021 and previously in men who traveled to Southeast Asia for sex tourism (1,2).In June 2024, a TMVII case in the United States was reported in a man who developed genital lesions after traveling to several countries in Europe and to California and who had sexual contact with multiple men while traveling (3).Clinicians subsequently alerted public health officials of additional patients in the United States who had laboratory-confirmed TMVII infection.* These authors contributed equally to this report. Typically, dermatophyte infections of the skin, also called tinea or ringworm, are mild conditions that can be treated with topical antifungals and do not affect the genitals.TMVII might have a predilection for anogenital skin.TMVII is distinct from Trichophyton indotineae, another emerging dermatophyte fungus that can also cause severe tinea but 1) affects the genitals less frequently; 2) is generally resistant to terbinafine, the first-line therapy for TMVII infection; and 3) in the United States, is usually associated with travel and immigration involving Southeast Asia.https://www.cdc.gov/ringworm/aboutemergingringworm/ index.htmlPhotos/Avrom S. Caplan (used with patient's permission) * Annular, scaly plaques on the right arm and trunk. Annular, scaly plaque on the penis. Scaly plaques on trunk and genital area, with scattered erythematous papulonodules likely indicating follicular involvement of dermatophytosis.