Sexually Transmitted Fungus Appears In US and Europe – Gay Men At Risk
“Physicians need to directly ask about rashes around the groin and buttocks, especially for those who are sexually active, have recently traveled abroad, and report itchy areas elsewhere on the body.” – Dr. John Zampella, NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine
The first cases of a new sexually transmitted fungal infection have identified in the US. A study published in the journal JAMA Dermatology, reported that a man in his thirties from New York City contracted the infection after travelling to England, Greece and California. Upon returning to New York, he developed a skin rash known as tinea on his penis, buttocks, and limbs.
This highly contagious fungal infection, caused by the species Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), has been spreading across Europe. In 2023, France reported 13 cases, mostly among men who have sex with men. The New York City man disclosed having sex with multiple male partners during his trip, although none reported similar symptoms.
Dr Avrom Caplan, the study’s lead author, described this as “the latest in a group of severe skin infections” to reach the US. Unlike typical ringworm, which presents as neat circles, the tinea caused by TMVII may be mistaken for eczema lesions, potentially delaying appropriate treatment.
Caplan acknowledged the potential for stigma and anxiety associated with this infection but emphasised that it is “very different” from mpox (previously known as monkeypox). He stressed that there is only one reported case of TMVII in the US, with no evidence of widespread or endemic presence.
While these fungal infections can be challenging to treat, they seem to respond to standard treatments like terbinafine, an oral tablet for fungal infections. However, another skin infection causing tinea, Trichophyton indotinea, has shown resistance to terbinafine. First reported in the US in 2023, this infection is widespread in India and has been reported globally.
Researchers advise medical practitioners to be vigilant for symptoms of both infections in their patients, although rates remain low in the US. Caplan encourages patients with persistent, painful, itchy, or inflamed lesions in the genital area to seek medical advice.
