Domestic feline contribution in the transmission of Sporothrix in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: a comparison between infected and non-infected populations

Abstract

BackgroundSporotrichosis is a neglected zoonosis caused by pathogenic fungi belonging to the Sporothrix schenckii complex. In Rio de Janeiro state, this disease reached an epidemic status with over 4700 domestic felines and around 4000 humans affected since the mid-90s. The present study evaluated clinical and epidemiological aspects and also the frequency of colonization and infection by these fungi in healthy cats and among those with suspicious cutaneous lesions, inhabiting four Rio de Janeiro state distinct areas.ResultsThree hundred and seventy-one cats were included in two groups: 175 healthy cats [CRG] and 196 cats showing lesions suggesting sporotrichosis [SSG]. Mycological diagnosis allowed SSG animals to be divided in positive [104 cats; +SG] and negative [92 cats; -SG] groups. Nails, oral mucosa and lesions swabs were submitted to culture and potential colonies were subculture for micromorphologycal analysis, dimorphism and molecular tests. In the CRG, only one cat was colonized in the oral cavity [0.57%]; in the -SG group, four animals showed colonization of the nail and/or oral cavity [4.3%]; while the highest frequency of colonization [39.4%] was observed in the +SG. All molecularly typed isolates were identified as S. brasiliensis.ConclusionThe results obtained here indicate that healthy cats have a minor role in sporotrichosis transmission within the state of Rio de Janeiro. Conversely, a higher participation of diseased feline in sporotrichosis transmission was evidenced, especially by the colonization of their oral cavity. Sporothrix brasiliensis equally affects and colonizes animals from distinct Rio de Janeiro state areas. Thus, we hypothesize that sporotrichosis is a uniform endemic throughout the state, whose transmission depends mainly on the contact with cats with sporotrichosis. Since Rio de Janeiro displays a world unique epidemic model of the disease, not fully understood, data on the infected and non-infected animals can be of major importance for future strategies of sporotrichosis prevention and control. Finally, considering the importance of the current concept of “one health”, the experience here observed can be helpful for distinct epizootias and/or zoonosis.

Associated factors and spatial patterns of the epidemic sporotrichosis in a high density human populated area: A cross-sectional study from 2016 to 2018

“…For animals with a positive diagnosis, there was predominance of young animals of known age (1 to 3 years) (33.33%) and males (64.76%). Similar results were obtained in studies on endemic and outbreak regions in Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and Recife [9,10,14,15]. Majority of the animals was not spayed (68.57%); however, it was not possible to verify a significant association (p > 0.05) between castration and positive diagnosis.…”

“…Such behavior exposes the animals to fights, copulation, and contact with sick animals. Additionally, the sick cat may act as a disseminator of the fungus to other animals and to the environment [14,16].…”

“…All the variables (young animals, male, non-spayed, and with access to the street) are known risk factors of the disease, according to previously published studies [5,14]. For the improvement of a responsible ownership, it is of great importance to spread the information about this serious disease presenting a risk of infection for the animals and for the families they live with.…”

Genome-wide mapping using new AFLP markers to explore intraspecific variation among pathogenic Sporothrix species

“…This phenomenon is recent, since for decades feline sporotrichosis in Brazil occurred only as sporadic, self-limiting clusters [25,26]. However, the current outbreak of feline sporotrichosis due to S. brasiliensis in South and Southeast Brazil has risen to epidemic status, creating a public health emergency of international concern because of the potential of zoonotic transmission [14,22,27]. Remarkably, S. brasiliensis has been showing spatial expansion, with a wave of expansion tracking northwards through Northeast Brazil over the last five years [1].…”

Monitoring Fungal Burden and Viability of Sporothrix spp. in Skin Lesions of Cats for Predicting Antifungal Treatment Response

“…Most human cases of the disease have been linked to transmission from infected cats, and the identification of S. brasiliensis in human and feline sporotrichosis cases strongly supports zoonotic transmission [ 5 ]. The reason cats are such a successful source of infection is probably related to the high fungal burden in their skin lesions and to the isolation of the fungus from their claws and oral cavity [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”