Taxonomy of Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale) by restriction enzyme analysis of mitochondrial DNA.

The relationship between Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale) and the other members of the T. mentagrophytes complex was studied by restriction enzyme analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The mtDNA of 22 isolates of T. interdigitale from Japanese patients with dermatophytosis was extracted, digested with the restriction enzymes Hae III, Msp I, or Hind III, and the restriction profiles obtained compared with those of Arthroderma simii, Arthroderma benhamiae and Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii. The restriction profiles obtained for T. interdigitale were identical to those of A. vanbreuseghemii. Thus, these two species are considered to be closely related.