Abstract
Sporotrichosis is an implantation or inoculation mycosis caused by species of Sporothrix schenckii complex; its main manifestations are limited to skin; however, cutaneous-disseminated, disseminated (visceral) and extracutaneous variants of sporotrichosis can be associated with immunosuppression, including HIV-AIDS, chronic alcoholism or more virulent strains. The most common extracutaneous form of sporotrichosis includes pulmonary, osteoarticular and meningeal. The laboratory diagnosis requires observing yeast forms and isolating the fungus; the two main causative agents are Sporothrix schenckii (ss) and Sporothrix brasiliensis. Antibody levels and species recognition by Polimerase Chain Reaction using biological samples or cultures are also useful. The treatment of choice for most cases is amphotericin B and subsequent itraconazole for maintenance therapy.
Highlights
Sporotrichosis is a subacute or chronic implantation fungal infection, related to dimorphic fungi included within the Sporothrix schenckii complex [1,2,3,4]
Derived from studies of molecular biology, based on gene sequences: chitin synthase, β-tubulin and calmodulin, species are placed into five clades: Sporothrix brasiliensis (Clade I); Sporothrix schenckii (Clade II); Sporothrix globosa (Clade III) Sporothrix mexicana (Clade IV) and Sporothrix pallida (Clade V) [4,18,19,20,21]
A hyperendemic area has been reported in Peru (Andean region, Abancay) [9,10,28]; Brazil has the largest number of cases (Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais and São Paulo), because of the epidemic related to cats [4,6,8,29]; in Mexico, high endemic areas can be found in Jalisco and Puebla [3,7]
Summary
Sporotrichosis is a subacute or chronic implantation (formerly subcutaneous) fungal infection, related to dimorphic fungi included within the Sporothrix schenckii complex [1,2,3,4]. The infection is commonly caused by inoculation of the fungus that lives in the soil, plants, and decaying material; disease is known as “rose gardener’s disease”; it may be transmitted by various animals (rodents); in Brazil, the infection is commonly transmitted by cats. Even though it is considered as a disease of global distribution, most reports are often observed in areas with tropical temperatures and climates [5,6,7] In Latin America: Brazil, Peru and Mexico reported the highest incidence [3,7,8,9,10]. The extracutaneous forms are less commonly seen, and include disseminated sporotrichosis, pulmonary sporotrichosis and various osteoarticular, ocular and central nervous system disorders [4]
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