title: Mating type gene for isolates of Trichophyton   mentagrophytes from guinea pigs.
abstract: Trichophyton mentagrophytes were isolated from 19 of 20 guinea pigs in a children’s corner of a zoo. The nucleotide sequence identity of the internal transcribed spacer region among 19 guinea pig isolates was 99%, including the reference strain of animal type 3 of T. mentagrophytes. The genomic DNA of all isolates were investigated for the mating (MAT) gene by specific polymerase chain reaction. The alpha-box gene was detected in all 19 isolates, while the high-mobility-group (HMG) gene was detected in only one of 19 isolates. Therefore, the guinea pig population harbored at least 2 MAT types of Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii. The T. mentagrophytes that was prevalent in this population may constitute a constant source of infection for persons coming into contact with guinea pigs.
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hiruma
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: Utako
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: Masataro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiruma
authors.forename: Atsuhiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D011817:Rabbits; D014005:Tinea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission