Genetic Analysis of Familial Onset of Trichophyton rubrum Infection.

We encountered a case of familial infection of Trichophyton rubrum infection affecting five of six cohabiting family members: father, tinea pedis; mother tinea corporis; first son tinea pedis; second son tinea corporis; and third son tinea corporis. We conducted mycological culture observations from each member's lesions and performed genetic analysis of the ribosomal RNA genes of the detected T. rubrum strains using ITS-PCR-RFLP and non-transcribed spacer region analysis. Based on the results, we investigated the source and route of infection. Our findings suggest that the T. rubrum infection within the household was not solely due to a single infected individual.