Highly contagious sexually transmitted fungal infection debuts in the US: First case in NYC

A rare and highly contagious sexually transmitted fungal infection that is on the rise in Europe has now made its debut in the United States with a confirmed case in New York.

An unidentified man in his 30s developed a fungal skin infection after returning to New York from a trip through England, Greece and California. According to a case study published in Jama Dermatology, the man developed symptoms of rashes due to tinea (ringworm) on his penis, buttocks and limbs.

Genetic testing on skin lesions identified the fungal infection as Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), a sexually transmitted form of ringworm. This strain is being reported with increasing frequency in Europe. Last year, there were 13 cases in France, mostly in men who have sex with men.

The patient mentioned in the case study reportedly had sex with several male partners during his travels. However, none of them had similar skin problems.

The patient’s Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII infection responded to standard antifungal treatment but took four and a half months to fully clear. Health experts caution that this infection can take months to clear, even with treatment.

“Healthcare providers should be aware that Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII is the latest in a group of serious skin infections that has now reached the United States,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Avrom Caplan of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in a press release.

However, experts assure that there is no cause for concern among the general population as there is no evidence that the infection is widespread.

“There’s no evidence that this is widespread or that this is something that people really need to be concerned about. But if people have itchy rashes in areas like the groin and it doesn’t get better, they should see a doctor,” Dr. Caplan said.

Since the infected patient’s sexual partners showed no signs of ringworm infection, Dr. Caplan did not rule out the possibility that the patient had become infected in a sauna that he had visited two months before the onset of symptoms.

Sometimes the rash can be misdiagnosed as eczema because the circular lesions typical of ringworm are missing, potentially delaying diagnosis in affected individuals, Dr. Caplan said.

“Because patients are often hesitant to discuss genital problems, physicians need to ask directly about rashes in the groin and buttocks, especially in sexually active patients who have recently traveled abroad and report itchy spots elsewhere on the body,” said study lead author Dr. John Zampella.