This study discusses a historical patient series and is designed to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of human sporotrichosis in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Data were derived from patients treated at the Infectious Diseases service of Cassiano Antônio Moraes University Hospital in Vitória, the state capital, from July 1982 to June 2012. A total of 171 patients were diagnosed with sporotrichosis, mostly men (80.7%) with a median age of 33 years and 5 months. We can presume an approximate average incidence rate of 4.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the studied period. All the patients were involved in occupational or leisure activities with direct contact with soil or plants. Most cases were recorded in the mountainous region of the state during the hot and rainy periods. The average time elapsed from lesion progression to diagnosis was 3 months, with the lymphocutaneous form being the most common (70.2%), followed by the fixed cutaneous form (28.6%). Diagnosis was confirmed in 93.6% of the cases by culturing Sporothrix spp. in Sabouraud dextrose agar, and from the clinical features in the remaining cases. Aspiration of cutaneous nodule secretions was the best method for the collection of clinical specimens for disease diagnosis. A 25% saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) was provided to almost all patients (98.8%), with therapeutic success. In conclusion, in this retrospective study in the state of Espírito Santo, we found that sporotrichosis affects primarily the ³ 10-year-old population, and the most common presentation is the lymphocutaneous form affecting the lower and upper limbs, and the infection appeared to be acquired predominantly through occupational activities. Treatment with SSKI was safe and effective.

Background Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis caused by Sporothrix species that affects humans and animals. Little information on the genetic diversity and population structure of the pathogen is available for Brazil, which is needed to design effective strategies to tackle the advance of sporotrichosis in endemic areas. Objectives We assessed the genetic diversity and mating‐type distribution of Sporothrix isolates recovered from human and feline cases of sporotrichosis in Espírito Santo‐Brazil to better understand the population structure, epidemiology and diversification of this pathogen, as well as to explore the possible routes of transmission involved in the ongoing outbreaks. Methods In all, 75 Sporothrix isolates were identified with phenotypic characteristics. Then, fungal DNA extraction was performed, and the species‐specific PCR technique was applied, using markers directed to the calmodulin gene. The mating‐type idiomorph of species was identified by PCR using primers targeting the MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2 loci. Results Among the 75 Sporothrix isolates, 76% were confirmed as S brasiliensis and 24% as S schenckii sensu stricto. S brasiliensis was more prevalent in the metropolitan area and S schenckii s. str. in the mountainous region of the state. In both species, the presence of the two sexual idiomorphs was detected, suggesting that they are heterothallic species. Conclusions Our data suggest that sporotrichosis takes on an epidemic‐urban character involving S brasiliensis. This species in Espírito Santo is likely to originate from Rio de Janeiro, as most isolates harbour the same MAT 1‐2 locus. We confirm that S brasiliensis has significantly broadened its area of occurrence, an essential feature of emerging pathogens.