title: Mating Type Gene (MAT) and Itraconazole Susceptibility of Trichophyton tonsurans Strains Isolated in Japan.
abstract: Infection by Trichophyton tonsurans is an emerging fungal epidemic in Japan. Itraconazole (ITZ) and terbinafine have been used for the treatment of this infection for 15 years. However, patients with T. tonsurans infections have been shown to remain uncured or to become reinfected, suggesting that subclinical infection or polyphyletic strains and/or antifungal drug-resistant strains might be occurring in Japan. In this study, PCR analysis was performed to confirm the presence of the mating type locus MAT in genomic DNA from 60 Japanese clinical isolates of T. tonsurans, and to assess the previously postulated clonal origin of clinical isolates of this species. Antifungal susceptibility testing on isolates also was performed to confirm the absence of strains resistant to ITZ. PCR analysis proved that all 60 strains contained the MAT1-1 allele, while none contained the MAT1-2 allele. As determined by E-test, the mean MIC of ITZ in the 60 strains was 0.023 mg/L (range 0.002-0.125 mg/L). All strains of T. tonsurans isolated in Japan were clonal and were not resistant to ITZ. Therefore, dermatophytosis due to T. tonsurans is expected to respond to ITZ, since clinical isolates of T. tonsurans tested to date have been susceptible to this antifungal. This infection is proliferating as a subclinical infection in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hiruma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Nihon University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan.
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Nihon University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan. kano@brs.nihon-u.ac.jp.|Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Nihon University College of Bioresource Sciences, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan. kano@brs.nihon-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Nihon University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan.
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumagawa
authors.affiliation: Ochanomizu Institute for Medical Mycology and Allergology, Nakamura Bldg. 2F, 2-12-4 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Masataro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiruma
authors.affiliation: Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology, 359 Otsuka, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0395, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuhiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Nihon University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamata
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
mesh_terms: D000498:Allyl Compounds; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007564:Japan; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013440:Sulfides; D014005:Tinea / Q000382:microbiology; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000498:Allyl Compounds; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D013440:Sulfides; D017964:Itraconazole; C028526:methylallyl trisulfide
keywords: Dermatophytosis; MAT1-1; Mating type gene; PCR; Trichophyton tonsurans