Variability and molecular diagnostics of the neurotropic species Cladophialophora bantiana

ITS sequencing data indicate a low degree of variability of Cladophialophora bantiana. The species is restricted to strains differing in less than 6 ITS1 positions. Supplementary SSU and ITS RFLP data show that 31 strains can be assigned to this species. The great majority of these originate from brain infections of humans, cats and dogs. All possess a 558 bp intron at position 1768 in the SSU rDNA gene; a primer selective for the intron and hence diagnostic for the species has been developed. One cerebral strain proves to be a hitherto undescribed species. Subcutaneous strains cluster in Xylohypha emmonsii at about 35 bp difference from C. bantiana; this taxon is re-introduced despite high nDNA homology values. Cladophialophora devriesii contains a single strain; C. arxii is a somewhat heterogeneous assemblage.