Phenotypic and Genotypic Identification of Dermatophytes from Mexico and Central American Countries.

Dermatophytes are fungi included in the genera , , , , , , and . Molecular techniques have contributed to faster and more precise identification, allowing significant advances in phylogenetic studies. This work aimed to identify clinical isolates of dermatophytes through phenotypic (macro- and micromorphology and conidia size) and genotypic methods (sequences of ITS regions, genes of β tubulin (), and elongation factor α ()) and determine the phylogenetic relationships between isolates. Ninety-four dermatophyte isolates from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic were studied. The isolates presented macro- and micromorphology and conidia size described for the genera , , and . Genotypic analysis classified the isolates into the genera (63.8%), (25.5%), (9.6%), and (1.1%). The most frequent species were (26 isolates, 27.6%), (26 isolates, 27.6%), and (11 isolates, 11.7%), and (nine isolates, 9.6%), among others. The genotypic methods clarified the taxonomic status of closely related species. For instance, the ITS and BT2 markers of / did not differ but the gene did. On the other hand, the three markers differed in /. Therefore, the ITS, , and genes are useful for typing in phylogenetic analyses of dermatophytes, with being the most informative locus. It should be noted that isolate MM-474 was identified as when using ITS and , but when using , it was identified as . On the other hand, no significant difference was found when comparing the methods for constructing phylogenies, as the topologies were similar.