A case of tinea corpolis by infection from a chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger) with Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii

We report a case of Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii infection. Case: A 35-year-old female housewife visited our department in February 2002 for an evaluation of an erythematous lesion made from which was a right paranasal lesion. A KOH preparation made from scale specimens revealed mycelia and Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated from the culture. At the same time a chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger), her pet, had an alopecia and T. mentagrophytes was isolated from the lesion. The two isolated pathogens were identified as Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii using a classification system based on a cluster analysis of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) DNA sequences. The oral administration of itraconazole was effective. Recently, dermatophytosis with T. mentagrophytes complex often occurs after an intection from animals, especially rodents. We should be aware that animals may carry this kind of fungal pathogen.