Species of the Trichophyton benhamiae complex are predominantly zoophilic pathogens with a worldwide distribution. These pathogens have recently become important due to their epidemic spread in pets and pet owners. Considerable genetic and phenotypic variability has been revealed in these emerging pathogens, but the species limits and host spectra have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we used an approach combining phylogenetic analysis based on four loci, population-genetic data, phenotypic and physiological analysis, mating type gene characterization and ecological data to resolve the taxonomy of these pathogens. This approach supported the inclusion of nine taxa in the complex, including three new species and one new variety. Trichophyton benhamiae var. luteum var. nov. (“yellow phenotype” strains) is currently a major cause of zoonotic tinea corporis and capitis in Europe (mostly transmitted from guinea pigs). The isolates of the “white phenotype” do not form a monophyletic group and are segregated into three taxa, T. benhamiae var. benhamiae (mostly North America; dogs), T. europaeum sp. nov. (mostly Europe; guinea pigs), and T. japonicum sp. nov. (predominant in East Asia but also found in Europe; rabbits and guinea pigs). The new species T. africanum sp. nov. is proposed for the “African” race of T. benhamiae. The introduction to new geographic areas and host jump followed by extinction of one mating type gene have played important roles in the evolution of these pathogens. Due to considerable phenotypic similarity of many dermatophytes and phenomena such as incomplete lineage sorting or occasional hybridization and introgression, we demonstrate the need to follow polyphasic approach in species delimitation. Neutrally evolving and noncoding DNA regions showed significantly higher discriminatory power compared to conventional protein-coding loci. Diagnostic options for species identification in practice based on molecular markers, phenotype and MALDI-TOF spectra are presented. A microsatellite typing scheme developed in this study is a powerful tool for the epidemiological surveillance of these emerging pathogens.

该种毛benhamiae复杂的主要是zoophilic病原体呈世界性分布。由于它们在宠物和宠物主人中的流行，这些病原体最近变得很重要。在这些新兴病原体中已经发现了相当大的遗传和表型变异性，但物种界限和宿主光谱尚未清楚阐明。在这项研究中，我们采用了一种基于四个基因座的系统发育分析，种群遗传数据，表型和生理分析，交配型基因表征和生态数据的方法来解决这些病原体的分类问题。这种方法支持在该建筑群中包括九个分类单元，包括三个新物种和一个新品种。毛癣菌变种黄麻变种 十一月 （“黄色表型”菌株）目前是欧洲人畜共患体癣和头炎的主要原因（主要是从豚鼠传播）。“白色表型”的分离物不形成单系统群，而是分为三个类群，即苯丙酸杆菌。benhamiae（主要是北美，狗），T.欧洲大学联盟SP。十一月 （主要是欧洲；豚鼠）和T. japonicum sp。（十一月 （主要在东亚，在欧洲也有发现；兔子和豚鼠）。新种T. africanum sp。十一月 被提议为T. benhamiae的“非洲”种族。引入新的地理区域和寄主跳跃，然后消灭一种交配型基因，在这些病原体的进化中起了重要作用。由于许多表皮植物的表型相似性以及诸如不完整的谱系分类或偶然的杂交和渗入等现象，我们证明了在物种划界中需要遵循多相方法。与传统的蛋白质编码基因座相比，中性进化和非编码DNA区域显示出明显更高的区分能力。提出了基于分子标记，表型和MALDI-TOF谱的物种鉴定的诊断选择。在这项研究中开发的微卫星分型方案是对这些新兴病原体进行流行病学监测的有力工具。