Mating Type Gene (MAT1-2) of Trichophyton verrucosum

Trichophyton verrucosum is a zoophilic dermatophyte species that is the most frequent etiologic agent of bovine dermatophytosis throughout the world. Since no teleomorph of T. verrucosum has been found, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on the genome of T. verrucosum isolated from the Czech Republic and Japan was performed to confirm the presence of a mating type locus in the genome of the fungus and to clarify its classification and ecological characteristics. The mating type gene (MAT1-2) allele was detected by PCR analysis in all 22 isolates (four isolates from the Czech Republic and 18 isolates from Japan). The nucleotide sequence of the region exhibited 99–100 % identity among all isolates, including the reference strain of T. verrucosum. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region at the MAT1-2 locus clustered together in the isolates examined, forming a branch distinct from that of the other dermatophyte species. These results suggest that T. verrucosum is a clonal offshoot that has drifted away from Arthroderma benhamiae.