Cluster analysis of human and animal pathogenic Microsporum species and their teleomorphic states, Arthroderma species, based on the DNA sequences ofnuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1

We performed a cluster analysis of human and animal pathogenic Microsporum species and their teleomorphic states, Arthroderma species, including A. ot ae-related species (M. canis, M. audouinii, M. distortum, M. equinum, M, la ngeronii, and M. ferrugineum) and M. gypseum complex (A. fulvum, ri. gypseu m, and A. incurvatum) using DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal internal tra nscribed spacer 1 (ITS1), The dendrogram showed the members of A. otae-rela ted species to be monophyletic and to construct an extremely closely relate d cluster with a long horizontal branch. This ITS1-homologous group of A. o tae was organized in 6 unique genotypes, while sequences of the members of the ITS1-homologous group of M. gypseum complex are more diverse. This ITS1 -based database of Microsporum species and their teleomorphic states will p rovide a useful and reliable species identification system: it is time-savi ng (takes two to three days), accurate and applicable even to strains with atypical morphological features or in a non-culturable state.