Tinea barbae caused by a zoophilic strain of Trichophyton interdigitale.

A deep absceding infection is reported of the inframandibular part of the face of a 22-year-old male student due to a zoophilic strain of Trichophyton interdigitale. The fungus was probably acquired from the cat of the patient. Initial therapy by a general practitioner was with topical glucocorticoids and oral antihistaminica. The patient developed a severe phlegmoneous inflammation of the bearded part of the face. Later, the patient was successfully treated by a combination of itraconazole and fluconazole. Identification of the species was confirmed by light and scanning microscopy as well as sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA.