title: [Guinea pigs and dermatophytosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current trend of keeping "exotic" pets has led to the emergence of new types of fungal species that may be transmitted to humans [1]. We describe a form of dermatophytosis transmitted by a Guinea pig and caused by a new variety of dermatophyte.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 13-year-old girl developed multiple erythematosquamous and vesicular lesions with a highly inflammatory edge several weeks after acquiring a Guinea pig of apparently healthy appearance. Direct examination and culture tests demonstrated the presence of a dermatophyte closely related to the erinacei variant of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, from which it differed in terms of microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. The condition resolved on therapy with topical imidazole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new type of dermatophyte has been identified in many patients coming into close contact with Guinea pigs in the region of Nancy. We would suggest the emergence of a novel variety of T. mentagrophytes, which has adapted to its new host following transmission to Guineas pigs from hedgehogs. We propose that it be named T. mentagrophytes var. porcellae.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de mycologie, hôpital de Brabois, CHU de Nancy, rue du Morvan, 54500 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France. khettarleila@hotmail.com
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khettar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Contet-Audonneau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D014005:Tinea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*