Epidemiological and geographical distribution profile of urban sporotrichosis in the city of São Paulo

ABSTRACT

Abstract Background Sporotrichosis is the most frequent subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America, where it is considered endemic. At the end of the 20th century, the first cases of zoonotic transmission were described in Rio de Janeiro, triggering an epidemic outbreak that spread to other regions of Brazil. The lack of disease notification omits its real occurrence in the country, which happens in its most populous city, São Paulo. Objective To evaluate the epidemiological aspects of the patients seen at a hospital in São Paulo aiming at establishing the geographic distribution of this disease. Methods This is a retrospective study that analyzed data from medical records of patients with a clinical and laboratory diagnosis of sporotrichosis attended at a tertiary hospital in the city of São Paulo between 2012 and 2020. Results Twenty patients were included. As for zoonotic surveillance, 30% denied contact with an animal, and 70% reported previous contact with a sick cat, with no other animals being mentioned. One case was allochthonous and the others autochthonous, showing a dissemination behavior from a focus in the eastern area of the capital. Study limitations The present study was based on data from only one hospital. Studies that include data from other hospitals and other regions must be carried out to obtain a complete picture of this disease. Conclusions As in other regions of the country, zoonotic sporotrichosis presents itself as an endemic disease with an increase in the number of cases. The findings highlight epidemiological characteristics of great importance so that public health policies can contain disease progression.