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Sporotrichosis (Sporothrix schenckii)
Etiology
Sporotrichosis is a rare fungal infection that occurs worldwide both sporadically and in outbreaks. The etiologic agent, Sporothrix schenckii, exhibits temperature dimorphism, existing as a mold at environmental temperatures (25-30°C [77-86°F]) and as a yeast in vivo (37°C [98.6°F]).
Epidemiology
S. schenckii is found throughout the world, but most cases of sporotrichosis are reported from North America, South America, and Japan. In the United States, the majority of cases have occurred in the Midwest, particularly in areas along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The fungus is found in decaying vegetation and has been isolated most commonly from sphagnum moss, rosebushes, barberry, straw, and some types of hay. Sporotrichosis can occur as an occupational disease among farmers, gardeners, veterinarians, and laboratory workers. Transmission from bites and scratches of animals, most commonly cats and armadillos, has occurred. Reports of human-to-human transmission are rare. Sporotrichosis has rarely been reported in infants. The mechanism of transmission in children may be zoonotic but usually is unclear. In 1 endemic area of Peru, the incidence of infection is greater in children than in adults; risk factors for infection in these children are playing in crop fields, living in houses with dirt floors, and owning a cat.
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