First genotype identification of Trichosporon asahii in Sfax, Tunisia.

Purpose: The objectives of our study were species identification and genotyping of Trichosporon isolates collected at the Parasitology and Mycology Laboratory in Sfax, Tunisia.

Methodology: Molecular identification was carried out by analysing the IGS1 regions of the rDNA of 30 Trichosporon isolates.

Results: Trichosporon asahii was the most frequent species detected. Furthermore, four genotypes were identified in Tunisia: 1 (46.4 %), 4 (35.7 %), 7 (14.3 %) and 3 (3.6 %). In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of the isolates showed that voriconazole exhibited the highest activity.

Conclusion: This is the first reported study of genotype identification of T. asahii in Tunisia and even in the African continent.