Abstract
BackgroundSporotrichosis is a mycotic infectious disease that is generally acquired by traumatic inoculation of contaminated materials especially from plant debris or through bites and scratches from diseased animals, such as domestic cats. It affects the skin, lymphatic system, and other organs in the warm-blooded host. Etiological agents are embedded in the plant-associated order Ophiostomatales. With essential differences between possible outbreak sources and ecological niche, host-environment interactions are classic determinants of risk factors for disease acquisition. Sporotrichosis outbreaks with zoonotic transmission, such as those that are ongoing in southern and southeastern Brazil, have highlighted the threat of cross-species pathogen transmission. Sporothrix brasiliensis has emerged as a human threat owing to the intimate contact pattern between diseased cats and humans in endemic areas.ResultsWe describe the recent emergence of feline sporotrichosis in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil, with an overwhelming occurrence of S. brasiliensis as the etiological agent. A phylogenetic and a haplotype approach were used to investigate the origin of this epidemic and the impact of feline transmission on genetic diversity. During the last 3-year period, 163 cases of feline sporotrichosis were reported in São Paulo with proven S. brasiliensis culture. The haplotype diversity of feline S. brasiliensis isolates revealed the expansion of a clonal population with low genetic diversity. Haplotype analysis confirmed that isolates from São Paulo shared the haplotype originated in the long-lasting outbreak of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, which differed from the haplotype circulating in the Rio Grande do Sul epidemic.ConclusionsThe fast spread of sporotrichosis in a short period of time highlights the potential for outbreaks and suggests that the mycosis may affect an urban population with a high concentration of susceptible felines. The feline sporotrichosis epidemic shows no signs of slowing, and this epidemiological pattern may require specific public health strategies to control future outbreaks.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-014-0269-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Sporotrichosis is a mycotic infectious disease that is generally acquired by traumatic inoculation of contaminated materials especially from plant debris or through bites and scratches from diseased animals, such as domestic cats
The first suspected cases of feline sporotrichosis emerged in March 2011 in the region of Itaquera, an urban area with a high population density
In the metropolitan area of São Paulo, in the cities of Diadema and Guarulhos, 10 (100%) and 17 of 40 (43%) feline clinical samples were positive for Sporothrix, respectively (Table 1)
Summary
Sporotrichosis is a mycotic infectious disease that is generally acquired by traumatic inoculation of contaminated materials especially from plant debris or through bites and scratches from diseased animals, such as domestic cats. It affects the skin, lymphatic system, and other organs in the warm-blooded host. The disease occurs worldwide in the form of sapronoses and zoonoses, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions [4,5,6,7], and is the most frequent subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America [8] Since it was first noted in the United States in 1898, this mycosis has been described as a disease of occupational risk, affecting farmers, gardeners, and agricultural workers. Zoonotic sporotrichosis is highly frequent in the southern [4,5,13] and southeastern [4,5,14,15] regions of Brazil, and animals usually experience the severe form of sporotrichosis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
