Korean J Med Mycol.  2009 Jun;14(2):98-102.

A Case of Trychophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei Infection from a Patient's Pet Hedgehog

• Lee KJ
• Kim JE
• Park HJ
• Lee JY
• Cho BK

Abstract

Hedgehogs are nocturnal spiny mammals in a rodent family. Recently in Korea, the more hedgehogs are raised in the house as pets, the more people are acquired various infections from them. Herein, we report a case of Trichophyton(T.) mentagrophytes var. erinacei infection transmitted from the patient's pet hedgehog. The patient was a 37-year-old man who raised a hedgehog for 6 months. He presented with scaly, erythematous papules and plaques on the left hand and right elbow for 3 months. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination, fungus culture and PCR for the fungal strain showed T. mentagrophytes var. erinacei. Treatment was performed systemically and topically with antifungal agents and skin lesions were improved without recurrence. Up to date, there have been only three case-reports of T. mentagrophytes var. erinacei infection transmitted from pet hedgehogs in the English literature. Here we report a rare and interesting case.

Keyword

Hedgehogs; Tinea corporis et manuum; Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei

MeSH Terms

Adult
Antifungal Agents
Elbow
Fungi
Hand
Hedgehogs
Humans
Hydroxides
Korea
Mammals
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Potassium
Potassium Compounds
Recurrence
Rodentia
Skin
Sprains and Strains
Trichophyton
Antifungal Agents
Hydroxides
Potassium
Potassium Compounds