Call for Renaming India-Linked Fungus

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

A group of dermatologists from 14 countries, including India and Germany, has raised concerns about the regional naming of a novel fungal species, Trichophyton indotineae, which causes hard-to-treat skin infections. The naming practice, they argue, promotes prejudice and misinformation, contradicting global guidelines by health organizations.

Trichophyton indotineae:

Identified in 2020 by Japanese dermatologists in patients from India and Nepal.
Named following a historical practice of linking infectious agents to specific locations.
Initially categorized as a variant of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, termed Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) genotype VIII/T. interdigitale.
Cases have been reported across multiple continents, including Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia, often linked to travel and migration from South Asia.
Predominantly transmitted through person-to-person contact, including skin-to-skin interactions and shared personal items.
Emerging evidence suggests possible transmission through sexual contact.
Causes inflammatory and pruritic dermatophytosis, commonly affecting the groin, gluteal region, trunk, and face.
Notably exhibits high levels of resistance to terbinafine, a common antifungal medication, due to mutations in the squalene epoxidase gene.
The fungus has been detected in over 40 countries, making it a global health concern.

Concerns Raised by the Dermatologists:

Naming infectious agents after locations fosters stigma, racial prejudice, and misinformation.
It contradicts guidelines by: World Health Organization (WHO)
The naming was based on isolates from only two patients—one Indian and one Nepalese—rendering the designation scientifically unsubstantiated.
The origin of the fungus remains unclear, making a region-specific name inappropriate.

Internal Transcribed Spacer:

It serves as a genetic marker for species identification and phylogenetic analysis, particularly in fungi.
Found in the ribosomal RNA gene cluster.
Does not code for proteins but helps regulate rRNA production.
High variability between species makes ITS an ideal region for distinguishing fungal species.
Used in molecular diagnostics to accurately identify fungi, including Trichophyton indotineae.