Abstract
Trichophyton benhamiae, T. erinacei and related species are increasingly reported as a cause of dermatophytosis in pet or companion animals and their breeders or owners worldwide. A considerable genetic and phenotypic variability has been revealed in these emerging pathogens.
To substantiate the initial finding, we assembled strains isolated from various hosts in different European countries, Japan and the USA. We conducted DNA sequencing of several genetic loci, microsatellite analysis, analysis of morphology, and physiological testing to elucidate whether the detected level of variability reflects undescribed species diversity or a high infraspecific variability.