New sexually transmitted fungal infection discovered in New York, first case of its kind in the USA

U.S. health experts are raising alarm about highly contagious strains of the fungus after a recent case emerged in New York City in which a man in his 30s contracted a sexually transmitted form of ringworm, the first reported case of its kind in the United States.

Dr. Avrom S. Caplan, assistant professor in the dermatology department at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of the situation. “Healthcare providers should be aware that Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII) is the latest in a group of serious skin infections that have now reached the United States,” he was told by the New York Post.

The case study, which Caplan also contributed to and was published Wednesday, describes the experience of an unidentified New York man who became infected with TMVII and developed a rash on his penis, buttocks and limbs. TMVII cases are increasing in Europe, particularly among men who have sex with men.

The man who contracted the STD had traveled to England, Greece and California and had sexual activity with multiple partners, none of whom revealed similar dermatological problems. Dr. John G. Zampella, the study’s lead author, advised doctors to ask about rashes in the groin and buttocks, especially in sexually active people with a recent history of international travel and complaints of itching elsewhere on the body.

While infections caused by TMVII generally respond to standard antifungals such as terbinafine, they may take several months to heal. The similarity between “TMVII lesions” and those associated with “eczema” can present diagnostic challenges and potentially delay appropriate treatment. Another contagious skin infection, Trichophyton indotineae, presents a challenge for dermatologists.

This strain, which is endemic in India and recently discovered in the United States, shows resistance to treatment with terbinafine. The postData from 11 patients treated for Trichophyton indotineae between May 2022 and May 2023 showed that standard doses of terbinafine failed to clear the rashes, possibly due to genetic mutations in the fungus. Although itraconazole showed better efficacy, caution is advised due to its potential side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.