Pathogens from the Trichophyton benhamiae complex are one of the most important causes of animal mycoses with significant zoonotic potential. In light of the recently revised taxonomy of this complex, we retrospectively identified 38 Trichophyton isolates that could not be resolved into any of the existing species. These strains were isolated from Iranian and Czech patients during molecular epidemiological surveys on dermatophytosis and were predominantly associated with highly inflammatory tinea corporis cases, suggesting possible zoonotic etiology. Subsequent phylogenetic (4 markers), population genetic (10 markers), and phenotypic analyses supported recognition of two novel species. The first species, Trichophyton persicum sp. nov., was identified in 36 cases of human dermatophytosis and one case of feline dermatophytosis, mainly in Southern and Western Iran. The second species, Trichophyton spiraliforme sp. nov., is only known from a single case of tinea corporis in a Czech patient who probably contracted the infection from a dog. Although the zoonotic sources of infections summarized in this study are very likely, little is known about the host spectrum of these pathogens. Awareness of these new pathogens among clinicians should refine our knowledge about their poorly explored geographic distribution. IMPORTANCE In this study, we describe two novel agents of dermatophytosis and summarize the clinical manifestation of infections. These new pathogens were discovered thanks to long-term molecular epidemiological studies conducted in Czechia and Iran. Zoonotic origins of the human infections are highly probable, but the animal hosts of these pathogens are poorly known. Further research is needed to refine our knowledge about these new dermatophytes.

• Keywords
• Trichophyton benhamiae complex, dermatophytosis, molecular epidemiology, multigene phylogeny, skin mycoses, zoonotic infections, zoophilic dermatophytes,
• MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Cats MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microsatellite Repeats genetics   MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Cat Diseases microbiology   transmission   MeSH
• Dog Diseases microbiology   transmission   MeSH
• Cattle Diseases microbiology   transmission   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Cattle MeSH
• Tinea epidemiology   microbiology   transmission   MeSH
• Trichophyton classification   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Zoonoses microbiology   transmission   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Cats MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Cattle MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH
• Iran epidemiology   MeSH