Vol3-2Art1

Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII: early detection and targeted resistance testing

Chao Tang, Yingchun Xu#

Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

Abstract

Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII) first gained attention in reports of genital tinea after travel. Recent case series, genomic studies, and public health alerts suggest that it is now spreading locally in parts of Europe and the United States. TMVII can cause painful, inflamed, or follicular tinea in the genital area and at other skin sites. Routine tests often identify only the T. mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale species complex, so TMVII may be missed. Its current pattern differs from that of T. indotineae, in which terbinafine resistance is common. In a New York laboratory series, all 39 TMVII isolates had low minimum inhibitory concentrations for terbinafine and itraconazole. A case with terbinafine resistance has also been reported. Two decisions are central to care: when to confirm the genotype and when to request antifungal susceptibility testing. Genotype testing is useful when clinical findings, contact history, or linked cases suggest local spread. Susceptibility testing is most useful when oral treatment fails, recurrent, or previous antifungal use raises concern about resistance. Sexual contact describes one route of exposure, it does not define who can be infected. In practice, clinicians should suspect TMVII in the right setting, confirm it when the result matters, and follow the response to treatment.

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#Correspondence:
xycpumch@139.com

Article info:
Received 20 July 2026
Accepted 24 July 2026
Appeared online 29 July 2026
One Health Mycology 3(2): 126-128, 2026
doi.org/10.63049/OHM.26.32.1
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Cite this article:
Tang C, Xu Y 2026. Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII: early detection and targeted resistance testing. One Health Mycology 3(2), 126-128

Keywords:
antifungal susceptibility testing; dermatophytosis; molecular diagnosis; sexual transmission; surveillance; Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII

Article highlights:

  • Use genotype testing to identify linked cases and antifungal susceptibility testing when treatment fails.
  • Routine laboratory methods may miss TMVII, so local spread can go unnoticed.