From hedgehogs to men. Zoophilic dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton erinacei in eight patients

The hedgehog is an in Germany previously unrecognized source of human ringworm. Eight hedgehog caretakers from Gottingen and the surrounding area developed dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton erinacei. Four patients who handled the animals without gloves developed lesions on the hands that were more in keeping with hand eczema, leading to a delay in diagnosis. The other caretakers who wore gloves presented with typical ringworm on the arms, the big toe, the back, the abdomen, and the thighs. Their typical clinical features led to na early diagnosis and treatment.