T. tonsurans is an anthropophilic dermatophyte mostly causing tinea capitis and tinea corporis. In East Asian countries, it has rarely been isolated until now. However, it is necessary for researchers in Asian countries to be more accustomed to T. tonsurans than before because of frequent international sports exchanges nowadays.

This study was performed to identify T. tonsurans by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis.

Fifteen strains which were tentatively identified as T. tonsurans in Brazil were identified again by several conventional mycological tests and RAPD analysis.

Among 15 Brazilian strains, 3 were identified as T. tonsurans, 8 T. mentagrophytes, 3 T. nJmwn and 1 T. raubitschekii by conventional mycological tests. This result was examined again by RAPD analysis.

RAPD analysis is considered a rapid and reliable method for identification of T. tonsurans if the procedure is carefully standardized with adequate-primers.