Emerging Cases of Cat-Transmitted Sporotrichosis Driven by Sporothrix brasiliensis in Northeast Brazil.

Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis is caused by the emerging fungal pathogen Sporothrix brasiliensis and constitutes a significant public health issue that affects people living in resource-poor urban centers in Brazil. The lack of knowledge about transmission dynamics makes it difficult to propose public health policies to contain the advance of sporotrichosis. We describe the recent emergence of 1,176 cases of sporotrichosis in cats (2016 to 2021) in the metropolitan region of Recife, Brazil, leading to significant zoonotic transmission and an overwhelming occurrence of S. brasiliensis as the etiological agent. Most cases were from cats in the cities of Olinda (408/1,176; 34.70%), Jaboatão dos Guararapes (332/1,176; 28.23%), and Recife (237/1,176; 20.15%). Molecular typing using amplified fragment length polymorphism (EcoRI-GA/MseI-AG) revealed low polymorphic information content (PIC = 0.2499) and heterozygosity (H = 0.2928), typical of an outbreak scenario. Dendrogram and multivariate cluster analysis revealed that isolates from Pernambuco are closely related to Rio de Janeiro isolates. We report a substantial occurrence of MAT1-2 idiomorphs in the metropolitan region of Recife (0:60 ratio; χ2 = 60.000, P < 0.0001). The limited population differentiation and genetic diversity of the isolates from Pernambuco suggest a recent introduction, possibly via a founder effect, from the parental population in Rio de Janeiro. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of molecular surveillance of S. brasiliensis for outbreak response. A comprehensive one-health strategy is mandatory to control the spread of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis driven by S. brasiliensis, encompassing sanitary barriers, quick diagnosis, and treatment.

Responsible ownership and health education can reduce the time of sporotrichosis treatment in domestic cats.

Sporotrichosis is a widespread fungal infection that affects skin and subcutaneous tissues in humans and animals. In cats, it is displayed as nodules, ulcers and lesions on the nasal and respiratory mucosa. Antifungal treatment of cats is crucial but many cases are difficult, thus resulting in discontinue of the treatment, with disastrous consequences for the animal, encouraging contamination of the environment, other animals and people. The effects of responsible ownership education and health education for owners of cats with feline sporotrichosis as well as the interval between veterinary consultations on treatment outcomes for three groups of owners and their pet cats were evaluated in this study. The responsible ownership education and health education strategies consisted in videos in easy and accessible language for people with any level of education and were presented during consultations for two of the three groups included. The time between appointments was two weeks for two of the groups, and four weeks for one of the groups. The median of treatment time for the group without educational activities was 138 days, while for the other two groups it was 77.5 days and 86 days. It was found a significative reduction in the treatment time in the groups exposed to Responsible ownership education videos. There was no contamination of those responsible for home treatment, and the interval between monthly appointments did not impact on cure or death rates compared to the interval between fortnightly appointments. All these results can be applied to feline sporotrichoses treatment protocols increasing the owners treatment adherence and reducing either, the treatment discontinuation and the treatment costs and helps to control zoonotic sporotrichosis. The importance of attractive and comprehensible educational strategies as part of the feline sporotrichosis treatment protocol for the promotion of one health was highlighted.

First occurrence of feline sporotrichosis in a metropolitan area of Central-West Brazil.

Sporotrichosis is a neglected mycosis that affects human and animal hosts, including domestic cats. In Brazil, its most frequently diagnosed etiological agent is Sporothrix brasiliensis. Zoonotic transmission of S. brasiliensis occurs via direct contact between an infected cat and a susceptible human host. Notification of confirmed cases of feline sporotrichosis is not mandatory in Brazil. The metropolitan area of Goiania city can be considered a silent area for the occurrence of feline sporotrichosis. In this context, voluntary reporting of feline sporotrichosis cases is recommended for all healthcare professionals. This study aimed to report the first occurrence of S. brasiliensis in a cat from the metropolitan area of Goiania city. Cytopathology, mycology, thermal dimorphism and calmodulin gene amplification tests were performed. The mycological and molecular biological diagnoses corresponded to S. brasiliensis. The etiological agent of zoonotic sporotrichosis was detected in the metropolitan area of Goiania city, and therefore there is a risk of the emergence of new cases of cats infected with S. brasiliensis and the occurrence of zoonotic transmission of this fungus.

Sporotrichosis Cluster in Domestic Cats and Veterinary Technician, Kansas, USA, 2022.

We describe a feline sporotrichosis cluster and zoonotic transmission between one of the affected cats and a technician at a veterinary clinic in Kansas, USA. Increased awareness of sporotrichosis and the potential for zoonotic transmission could help veterinary professionals manage feline cases and take precautions to prevent human acquisition.

Combination therapy of itraconazole and an acylhydrazone derivative (D13) for the treatment of sporotrichosis in cats.

Acylhydrazone (AH) derivatives represent a novel category of anti-fungal medications that exhibit potent activity against Sporothrix sp., both in vitro and in a murine model of sporotrichosis. In this study, we demonstrated the anti-fungal efficacy of the AH derivative D13 [4-bromo-N'-(3,5-dibromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-benzohydrazide] against both planktonic cells and biofilms formed by Sporothrix brasiliensis. In a clinical study, the effect of D13 was then tested in combination with itraconazole (ITC), with or without potassium iodide, in 10 cats with sporotrichosis refractory to the treatment of standard of care with ITC. Improvement or total clinical cure was achieved in five cases after 12 weeks of treatment. Minimal abnormal laboratory findings, e.g., elevation of alanine aminotransferase, were observed in four cats during the combination treatment and returned to normal level within a week after the treatment was ended. Although highly encouraging, a larger and randomized controlled study is required to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of this new and exciting drug combination using ITC and D13 for the treatment of feline sporotrichosis. IMPORTANCE: This paper reports the first veterinary clinical study of an acylhydrazone anti-fungal (D13) combined with itraconazole against a dimorphic fungal infection, sporotrichosis, which is highly endemic in South America in animals and humans. Overall, the results show that the combination treatment was efficacious in ~50% of the infected animals. In addition, D13 was well tolerated during the course of the study. Thus, these results warrant the continuation of the research and development of this new class of anti-fungals.

Emergence of zoonotic sporotrichosis in Brazil: a genomic epidemiology study.

BACKGROUND: Zoonotic sporotrichosis is a neglected fungal disease, whereby outbreaks are primarily driven by Sporothrix brasiliensis and linked to cat-to-human transmission. To understand the emergence and spread of sporotrichosis in Brazil, the epicentre of the current epidemic in South America, we aimed to conduct whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to describe the genomic epidemiology. METHODS: In this genomic epidemiology study, we included Sporothrix spp isolates from sporotrichosis cases from Brazil, Colombia, and the USA. We conducted WGS using Illumina NovaSeq on isolates collected by three laboratories in Brazil from humans and cats with sporotrichosis between 2013 and 2022. All isolates that were confirmed to be Sporothrix genus by internal transcribed spacer or beta-tubulin PCR sequencing were included in this study. We downloaded eight Sporothrix genome sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (six from Brazil, two from Colombia). Three Sporothrix spp genome sequences from the USA were generated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of this study. We did phylogenetic analyses and correlated geographical and temporal case distribution with genotypic features of Sporothrix spp isolates. FINDINGS: 72 Sporothrix spp isolates from 55 human and 17 animal sporotrichosis cases were included: 67 (93%) were from Brazil, two (3%) from Colombia, and three (4%) from the USA. Cases spanned from 1999 to 2022. Most (61 [85%]) isolates were S brasiliensis, and all were reported from Brazil. Ten (14%) were Sporothrix schenckii and were reported from Brazil, USA, and Colombia. For S schenckii isolates, two distinct clades were observed wherein isolates clustered by geography. For S brasiliensis isolates, five clades separated by more than 100 000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were observed. Among the five S brasiliensis clades, clades A and C contained isolates from both human and cat cases, and clade A contained isolates from six different states in Brazil. Compared with S brasiliensis isolates, larger genetic diversity was observed among S schenckii isolates from animal and human cases within a clade. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that the ongoing epidemic driven by S brasiliensis in Brazil represents several, independent emergence events followed by animal-to-animal and animal-to human transmission within and between Brazilian states. These results describe how S brasiliensis can emerge and spread within a country. FUNDING: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil; the São Paulo Research Foundation; Productivity in Research fellowships by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, and Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil.

The present and future research agenda of sporotrichosis on the silver anniversary of zoonotic sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Twenty-five years have passed since the initial observation of endemic zoonotic sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since then, this disease has spread throughout South America. Accompanying the emergence of this mycosis, some progress has been made, including the expansion of a research network in this field and higher visibility of sporotrichosis within government authorities and funding agencies. However, there are still some challenges to curbing the expansion of this disease in the coming years. These include the development of rapid and accurate diagnostic tests, new antifungal drugs, particularly for the treatment of extracutaneous manifestations of sporotrichosis, and more comprehensive care for cats with sporotrichosis. Including these actions in the sporotrichosis research agenda is required so as to change the development of this disease in the years to come.

Feline sporotrichosis due to Sporothrix globosa in the Metropolitan region of Buenos Aires: A case study.

We describe here the first case of feline sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix globosa, occurring outside the epizootic area of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Unlike cases reported with Sporothrix brasiliensis, on this occasion there was no clinical or serological evidence of zoonotic transmission through scratches or bites from the sick cat to the attending veterinarian or the person responsible for its care. This report aimed to improve the knowledge about the pathogenic profile of S. globosa.

Feline sporotrichosis: Characterization of cutaneous and extracutaneous lesions using different diagnostic methods.

Sporotrichosis is a mycotic infection of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues caused by Sporothrix spp. that can also cause extracutaneous manifestations. This study aimed to characterize cutaneous and extracutaneous sporotrichosis lesions in cats. Over 1 year, 102 cats rescued by the Zoonoses Control Center of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, euthanized with clinical suspicion of feline sporotrichosis were evaluated. After euthanasia, the animals were evaluated by macroscopic, cytological, histopathological, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) examinations; fungal culture; and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sporothrix infection was identified by at least one diagnostic technique in all cats (n = 102) evaluated by postmortem examination, including 26/28 cases (93%) evaluated by IHC, 66/90 cases (73%) evaluated by cytology, 70/102 cases (68.6%) evaluated by histopathology, and 62/74 cases (84%) evaluated by fungal culture. Two cats had positive results only by fungal culture. Cytology and histopathology examinations were effective in diagnosing sporotrichosis, although IHC was needed to confirm the diagnosis in cats with low fungal loads. Sporothrix brasiliensis was confirmed by the sequencing of 3 samples. Skin lesions were characterized mainly by pyogranulomatous to granulomatous dermatitis (frequently with subcutaneous inflammation) with different intensities of Sporothrix spp. yeast. Extracutaneous findings associated with sporotrichosis included rhinitis or rhinosinusitis, lymphadenitis, pneumonia, meningitis, periorchitis, conjunctivitis, and glossitis. Extracutaneous infections were observed in 74/102 cases, and a possible association between the chronicity of the disease and the higher pathogenicity of this fungal species in cats requires further investigation.

Development and validation of a new quantitative reverse transcription PCR assay for the diagnosis of human sporotrichosis.

Sporotrichosis is an emergent public health problem. The mycological diagnosis of this infection is based on culture, which is fastidious and may represent a biohazard for technicians. Although not widely implemented in routine diagnosis, molecular methodologies are fast, have good accuracy, and can be easily standardized, aiding in the early diagnosis of neglected mycoses. This study aimed at implementing a new pan-Sporothrix quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay, and then validating it on clinical samples from confirmed human sporotrichosis cases. A total of 68 human samples with culture-confirmed diagnosis of sporotrichosis were collected from 64 patients followed at a Brazilian reference center for endemic mycoses. These samples were submitted to whole nucleic acid extraction, followed by an RT-qPCR protocol. The limit of detection was 244 fg, the efficiency was 2.0 (100%), and the assay could amplify the genetic material of the three major clinically relevant species of the genus Sporothrix. Among the 68 samples analyzed, 62 were positive in RT-qPCR, showing an overall sensitivity of 91.18%, which variated according to the type of biological sample: 96.72% in skin samples (n = 61) and 100% in respiratory samples (n = 3), whereas all cerebrospinal fluid specimens (n = 4) were negative. The specificity was 100% when tested in 25 samples from patients with other mycoses and tuberculosis. In addition, DNA from 93 fungal species did not yield positive results, confirming the high specificity of this test. Our RT-qPCR presented high sensitivity and specificity, representing an excellent tool for a fast and reliable diagnosis of human sporotrichosis.

Sporotrichosis is a deep mycosis with limited laboratorial techniques for fast diagnosis. We developed an assay able to detect the genetic material of fungal agents of sporotrichosis, and validated it in human specimens from patients with this disease, obtaining high positivity and specificity.

Emergence of zoonotic sporotrichosis due to Sporothrix brasiliensis in Minas Gerais, Brazil: A molecular approach to the current animal disease.

Sporotrichosis is a neglected fungal zoonosis with significant impacts on human and animal health. Accurate diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of the transmission dynamics of Sporothrix species are essential for mitigating the spread of sporotrichosis. This study aimed to identify the Sporothrix species involved in the ongoing outbreaks of animal sporotrichosis in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and analyse the phylogenetic relationships between pathogenic species to investigate the outbreak origin. Additionally, to better understand the evolution of the disease, we conducted a retrospective survey of positive feline and canine cases from November 2017 to July 2021 with proven cultures for Sporothrix. A significant increase in animal cases over the last 4 years was observed, with cats being the most affected host. Sporothrix brasiliensis was the predominant agent in 100% of the clinical isolates (n = 180) molecularly identified. Phylogenetic and haplotype analysis points towards the cases isolated from Minas Gerais sharing the haplotype originating from a long-lasting outbreak of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, however, with a secondary contribution from genotypes circulating in other outbreaks in Brazil. Thus, we present clear evidence of the circulation of different S. brasiliensis genotypes associated with animal sporotrichosis in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte. Genetic monitoring can contribute to understanding the causal agent for zoonotic sporotrichosis in epidemiological processes and help to implement disease prevention and control measures.

Therapeutic efficacy of isavuconazole and potassium iodide in a cat with refractory sporotrichosis.

A seven-month-old, male, domestic short-hair cat was presented with nodular and ulcerative lesions, as well as respiratory signs, caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis infection. Owing to lack of response to oral itraconazole and potassium iodide, isavuconazole was substituted for itraconazole, leading to clinical cure after three months of treatment without adverse effects.

Un chat domestique mâle à poil court de 7 mois est présenté avec des lésions nodulaires et ulcéreuses, ainsi que des signes respiratoires, causés par une infection à Sporothrix brasiliensis. En raison de l'absence de réponse à l'itraconazole oral et à l'iodure de potassium, l'isavuconazole est substitué à l'itraconazole, ce qui conduit à une guérison clinique après 3 mois de traitement sans effets indésirables.

Um gato doméstico de pelo curto de sete meses de idade foi apresentado com lesões nodulares e ulcerativas, bem como sintomas respiratórios, causados por infecção por Sporothrix brasiliensis. Devido à pobre resposta ao tratamento com itraconazol oral e iodeto de potássio, itraconazol foi substituído por isavuconazol, levando à cura clínica após três meses de tratamento, sem efeitos adversos.

Un gato doméstico de pelo corto, macho, de 7 meses de edad, se presentó con lesiones nodulares y ulcerativas, así como signos respiratorios, causados por infección por Sporothrix brasiliensis. Ante la falta de respuesta a itraconazol y yoduro potásico orales, se sustituyó itraconazol por isavuconazol, con curación clínica tras 3 meses de tratamiento sin efectos adversos.

Effectiveness of diphenyl diselenide against experimental sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis.

Diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2 is a stable organoselenium compound with promising in vitro antifungal activity against several fungi, including Sporothrix brasiliensis. This species is associated with feline and zoonotic sporotrichosis, an emergent mycosis in Latin America. We evaluated the activity of (PhSe)2, alone and in association with itraconazole, in the treatment of sporotrichosis caused by S. brasiliensis, in a murine model. Sixty mice were subcutaneously infected with S. brasiliensis in the footpad and treated by gavage for 30 consecutive days. The six treatment groups received: no active treatment, itraconazole (50 mg/kg), (PhSe)2 at 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg dosages, or itraconazole (50 mg/kg) + (PhSe)2 1 mg/kg, once a day, starting seven days post-inoculation. A significant reduction in the fungal burden of internal organs was achieved in the groups treated with (PhSe)2 1 mg/kg or itraconazole alone in comparison with the untreated group. Higher dosages (5 and 10 mg/kg) of (PhSe)2 increased the clinical manifestation of sporotrichosis and mortality rate. Treatment with both itraconazole and (PhSe)2 1 mg/kg was better than their activities alone (P < .001). This is the first demonstration of the potential use of (PhSe)2, alone or with the present drug of choice, in the treatment of sporotrichosis.

We evaluated the activity of diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2, alone and in association with itraconazole, in the treatment of sporotrichosis caused by S. brasiliensis, in a murine model. This is the first demonstration of the potential use of (PhSe)2, alone or in an association against sporotrichosis.

Mathematical model of the dynamics of transmission and control of sporotrichosis in domestic cats.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis with a global distribution, also known as "rose gardener's disease". Brazil is experiencing a rapid spread of the zoonotic transmission of of Sporothrix brasiliensis, the main etiological agent of this disease in this country, affecting domestic felines. Cost-effective interventions need to be developed to control this emergent public health problem. To allow for the comparison of alternative control strategies, we propose in this paper, a mathematical model representing the transmission of S. brasiliensis among cats, stratified by age and sex. Analytical properties of the model are derived and simulations show possible strategies for reducing the endemic levels of the disease in the cat population, with a positive impact on human health. The scenarios included mass treatment of infected cats and mass implementation of contact reduction practices, such as neutering. The results indicate that mass treatment can reduce substantially the disease prevalence, and this effect is potentialized when combined with neutering or other contact-reduction interventions. On the other hand, contact-reduction methods alone are not sufficient to reduce prevalence.

Topical hydrophilic gel with itraconazole-loaded polymeric nanomicelles improves wound healing in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis.

Sporotrichosis is a superficial fungal disease that can affect animals and humans. The high number of infected cats has been associated with zoonotic transmission and contributed to sporotrichosis being considered by the World Health Organization as one of the main neglected tropical fungal diseases for 2021-2030. Oral administration of itraconazole (ITZ) is the first choice for treatment, but it is expensive, time-consuming, and often related to serious adverse effects. As a strategy to optimize the treatment, we proposed the development of a hydrophilic gel with nanomicelles loaded with ITZ (HGN-ITZ). The HGN-ITZ was developed using an I-optimal design and characterized for particle size, Zeta potential, drug content, microscopic aspects, viscosity, spreadability, in vitro drug release, in vitro antifungal activity, and clinical evaluation in cats. The HGN-ITZ showed a high content of ITZ (97.3 ± 2.1 mg/g); and characteristics suitable for topical application (viscosity, spreadability, globules size, Zeta potential, controlled drug release). In a pilot clinical study, cats with disseminated sporotrichosis were treated with oral ITZ or HGN-ITZ + oral ITZ. A mortality rate of 21.3% was observed for the oral ITZ group compared to 5.3% for the HGN-ITZ + oral ITZ group. In a cat with a single lesion, topical treatment alone (HGN-ITZ) provided complete healing of the lesion in 45 days. No signs of topical irritation were observed during the treatments, suggesting that HGN-ITZ can be a promising strategy in the treatment of sporotrichosis.

Ocular lesions in cats diagnosed with systemic sporotrichosis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the most common ocular lesions and demonstrate the frequency of ophthalmic involvement in a group of cats with systemic sporotrichosis. ANIMALS STUDIED: Two hundred seventy-four cats diagnosed with systemic sporotrichosis. The inclusion criteria included previous positive cytopathological examination, histopathological examination, or fungal culture. PROCEDURES: In a prospective case-control study, 274 cats diagnosed with systemic sporotrichosis underwent ophthalmic evaluation and received treatment for systemic sporotrichosis. Of these animals, 63 had ocular abnormalities which were recorded, and conjunctivitis was scored from 0 to 5. Diagnostic techniques utilized included fungal culture, as well as cytopathological (10 eyes; 10 cats), and histopathological examination of the palpebral conjunctiva and eyes (2 eyes). RESULTS: Cytopathological and histopathological examination of the conjunctiva, as well as fungal culture, proved to be important tests for the detection of Sporothrix sp. Five cats without the evidence of ophthalmic abnormalities also had a positive fungal culture. The identified ocular lesions in animals with systemic sporotrichosis included increased serous discharge (79 eyes; 53 cats), blepharoconjunctivitis (33 eyes; 25 cats), conjunctivitis (39 eyes, 20 cats), blepharitis (9 eyes; 8 cats), uveitis (5 eyes; 3 cats), and Florida keratopathy-like lesions (2 eyes; 1 cat). CONCLUSION: Sporotrichosis should be considered a differential diagnosis for conjunctivitis and blepharoconjunctivitis, especially in endemic areas. Fungal culture and cytopathology of ocular discharge and histopathological examinations of the conjunctiva are important for the diagnosis of ophthalmic sporotrichosis, although not all cats underwent laboratory testing in this study. Ocular discharge could be a source of contagion transmission.

Soil samples from sporotrichosis transmission belt area: Searching for fungal species and their antagonistic activity against Sporothrix brasiliensis.

Since 1998, the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has become a public health problem regarding sporotrichosis, a disease caused by Sporothrix spp. involving contact with infected cats. Efforts to isolate these species from environmental sources are not always successful. In our study, soil from residences situated in cities of Rio de Janeiro where cats with sporotrichosis live was collected and cultured an attempt to isolate Sporothrix spp. but it was not successful. However, other saprophytic fungal species were isolated from soil and identified and among them Purpureocillium lilacinum was the most frequent. From there, we decided to study the in vitro interaction of this species with S. brasiliensis, the principal agent that causes sporotrichosis in this state. The results showed that ten isolates of P. lilacinum inhibited the radial mycelial growth of S. brasiliensis with different percentage of inhibition. The interaction between them revealed the pattern described as overgrowth by antagonist. In conclusion, our data suggest that fungal species with very fast growth and capable of producing metabolites could hinder the growth of Sporothrix spp., it also opens the way for the identification of secondary metabolites with biological activity that could be tested against pathogenic fungi.

Sporotrichosis in dogs: epidemiological and clinical-therapeutic profile and the emergence of itraconazole-resistant isolates.

Sporotrichosis is a neglected and emerging mycosis caused by the traumatic implantation of Sporothrix propagules into the (sub)cutaneous tissues of humans and animals. We evaluated canine sporotrichosis's clinical-therapeutic, epidemiological profile, and in vitro susceptibility of isolates to itraconazole. The variables were evaluated by a chi-square test. A total of 69 dogs were infected with Sporothrix spp., and the molecular identification revealed an overwhelming occurrence of S. brasiliensis as the etiological agent. The epidemiological profile was male (56.5%), adults (4.9 ± 1.92 years old; 69.6%), and mongrels (53.6%). The clinical signs were 76.8%, ulcers, draining tracts, and nodules were predominant, mainly in the nasal region (82.2%). Dogs were diagnosed late with an evolution time of up to 3 months (34.8%). According to the prior therapeutic information, 52.2% received empirical therapy, 79.2% antibiotics, and had a 0.29 significantly greater chance of presenting lesion evolution time ˃ 3 months (P < .05; Odds Ratio [OR] 1/0.29). Additionally, 25 S. brasiliensis isolates recovered between 2006-2012 (n = 15; Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.06-2 µg/ml) and 2013-2018 (n = 10; MIC: 2→16 µg/ml) were tested against itraconazole (ITZ). These findings highlighted the resistance to ITZ in clinical cases due to S. brasiliensis occurring after 2013, showing the temporal evolution of ITZ-resistance. We warn of the importance of accurate and early diagnosis in Sporothrix-affected areas, and we report the emergence of ITZ-resistant isolates in Southern Brazil.

Sporotrichosis is a fungal zoonosis. We investigated the clinical-therapeutic, epidemiological profile, and in vitro susceptibility of isolates to itraconazole (ITZ) in canine cases in Southern Brazil. Our study highlighted the emergence of ITZ-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis and the main challenges for clinical control of this neglected disease.

Sporothrix pathogenic clade: Molecular analysis of animal and human clinical isolates.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that affects animals and humans. Varying in severity, occurrences range from local lesions to systemic involvement. It is caused by thermodimorphic and saprobic fungi from the Sporothrix pathogenic clade. This study aimed to identify the species and the sexual idiomorph distribution patterns responsible for diagnosed cases of sporotrichosis in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. We included 188 isolates of Sporothrix sp. from feline lesions and 27 of human origin, which underwent molecular identification and genotyping for mating-type MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. The results showed that Sporothrix brasiliensis is the prevalent species in feline sporotrichosis outbreaks with the overwhelming presence of a single mating-type, MAT1-2 (P <.0001), suggesting a prevalently clonal form of spread. Morphological analyses did not discriminate among cryptic species in the genus Sporothrix, and molecular identification was essential for the correct identification of the species responsible for the observed cases of sporotrichosis. Distribution analyses of MAT1-2 isolates support the hypothesis of unidirectional migration from the current epidemics in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to the municipality of São José do Rio Preto.

This study aimed to identify the species and the sexual idiomorph distribution patterns responsible for diagnosed cases of sporotrichosis in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. We included 188 isolates of Sporothrix sp. from feline lesions and 27 of human origin.

Spread of Sporothrix spp. through respiratory droplets from infected cats: A potential route of transmission.

Cases of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis in Brazil have increased in recent years. We collected respiratory secretions expelled while sneezing from 28 cats diagnosed with sporotrichosis. We identified the presence of Sporothrix spp. in respiratory droplets expelled in the sneeze of infected cats. The results raise concerns about a new transmission route for cat-transmitted sporotrichosis. Physicians who diagnose and treat human cases of sporotrichosis should be aware of this potential new transmission method to improve clinical suspicion. Approximately half of patients with granulomatous conjunctival sporotrichosis did not report experiencing traumatic injury from cats.

Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis is a zoonosis in geographic expansion from Brazil to other Latin American countries and is considered a public health problem. Data suggest that transmission can occur through the sneeze of an infected cat. The One Health approach is necessary to control the disease.