To assess the occurrence of white piedra and the asymptomatic carriage rate of T beigelii, 100 heterosexual and 49 homosexual/bisexual men were entered into the study. White piedra of the scrotal hair was discovered in a total of four (2.7%) patients (two heterosexual, one homosexual and one bisexual), while in addition a positive scrotal culture for T beigelii was noted in a further seven (4.8%) patients (four heterosexual and three homosexual). Rectal carriage rates were 1% in the heterosexual and 4% in the homosexual/bisexual groups, while there was no pharyngeal carriage in either group.