Tinea faciei due to Trichophyton violaceum: first allochthonous case reported in Chile

Trichophyton violaceum is an anthropophilic dermatophyte en-demic in Africa, Europe, Central America and China. The increase in human mobility has recently contributed to the appearance in non-endemic areas. The main clinical manifestation is tinea capitis followed by tinea corporis. We present the first case in Chile of tinea caused by T. violaceum. The case was a 21 year-old Chilean woman who presented asymptomatic facial plaques one month after arriving from Tanzania, Africa, with no clinical response to previous medical treatments. An allochthonous dermatophytosis was suspected and with special cultures, a slow-growing colony was identified with a violet-blackish color, waxy and rough surface, and velvety villi; all characteristics of T. violaceum. The diagnosis was confirmed by ribo-somal DNA sequencing amplifying the ITS region. She was treated with oral terbinafine obtaining a complete clinical response.