Sporothrix schenckii

Shmuel Shoham, M.D.

MICROBIOLOGY

  • Sporotrichosis is caused by a complex of different species refered to as Sporotrhix schenckii complex, including:
    • S. brasiliensis: Limited to South America, associated with cat transmitted disease
    • S. globosa: Worldwide distribution, but most prevalent in East Asia. Infection associated with inoculation of contaminated plant matter
    • S. schenckii (sensu stricto): World-wide distribution. Similar to S. globosa, infection is associated with inoculation of contaminated plant matter
    • S. luriei: Limited to Africa and Asia. Less pathogenic than others
  • Dimorphic fungi:
    • Room temperature (25-28 C): Grow in filamentous form with septated hypha and conidia
    • Body temperature (36-37 C): invasive, cigar shaped yeast 1-3 x 3-10 µm
  • Exposure to the fungus: Multiple exposures and infections can arise from a single source
    • Zoonotic (with S. brasiliensis): Infected cats can have high fungal burden and transmit S. brasiliensis via scratch or bite directly.
    • Sapronotic (all non-brasiliensis Sporothrix species): Transmission is from contaminated plant matter or soil to people via minor cuts or scrapes.
  • Stains
    • Testing exudate for presence of asteroid bodies (yeasts surrounded by immune material, Splendore–Hoeppli phenomenon) is a low cost and sensitive diagnostic method.
      • Exudate material is placed on a slide with saline and a drop of 10% formaldehyde solution and examined by microscopy.
      • Yeast phase [Fig 1]
    • Fluorescent antibodies for tissue staining or culture confirmation [Fig 2].
    • Histopathology: Important stains are PAS and Gomori-Grocott stains [Fig 3].
      • Typical characteristics are yeast cells, asteroid bodies (although not pathognomonic for sporotrichosis)
      • Histological patterns termed sporotrichoid, tuberculous and foreign body reactions.
  • Culture of infected material (pus, secretions, tissues) is gold standard for diagnosis.
    • Use Sabouraud dextrose at 28 C for 5-8 days to grow the filamentous form.
    • Use blood chocolate, blood BHI agar at 37 C if want to grow the yeast form.

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Last updated: August 3, 2018