TAXONOMIC POSITION OF DEEP-SEATED, MUCOSA-ASSOCIATED, AND SUPERFICIALISOLATES OF TRICHOSPORON-CUTANEUM FROM TRICHOSPORONOSIS PATIENTS

Clinical isolates of Trichosporon cutaneum, the causative agent of tri chosporonosis, were identified on the basis of DNA relatedness. Of the 10 strains from deep-seated and mucosa-associated infections, 9 were identified as T. asahii and 1 was identified as T. ovoides. The two su perficial strains were identified as T. cutaneum and a variety of T. m ontevideense. These findings suggest that T. cutaneum is a heterogeneo us species in clinical samples and that the causative agents of tricho sporonosis exist in four or more species.