Immunopathogenesis of Human Sporotrichosis: What We Already Know

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a subacute/chronic mycosis caused by dimorphic fungus of the genus Sporothrix. This mycosis may affect both human and domestic animals and in the last few years, the geographic dispersion and increase of sporotrichosis worldwide has been observed. The occurrence of cases related to scratching/bites of domestic felines have increased, characterizing the disease as predominantly a zoonosis. In humans, sporotrichosis mainly involves the cutaneous tegument of infected patients, but other tissues may also present the infection. The main forms of clinical presentation are lymphocutanous sporotrichosis (LC) and fixed sporotrichosis (F). Although less common, mucosal, cutaneous disseminated, and extracutaneous forms have also been described. Multiple factors from the fungus and host can play a role in driving the clinical evolution of sporotrichosis to benign or severe disease. In this review, we discuss the immunopathological aspects involved in human sporotrichosis. Putting together the two branches of knowledge—host immune response and fungal evading mechanisms—we may perceive new possibilities in understanding the fungus–host interaction in order to be in a position to go further in the control of sporotrichosis.

Human serum proteins bind to Sporothrix schenckii conidia with differential effects on phagocytosis

“…Sporotrichosis is a chronic cutaneous and lymphocutaneous mycosis, caused by fungi of the Sporothrix spp., which affects warm-blooded hosts. Sporothrix globosa, Sporothrix brasiliensis, and Sporothrix schenckii are the three pathogenic species that cause sporotrichosis worldwide [1,2].…”

“…However, the initiation can alternatively happen on humans or other mammals receiving scratches and bites from cats [4]. Cats are the main animal species that have the potential to initiate epidemics by transmitting sporotrichosis to humans [1].…”

A Case of Acute Granulomatous Conjunctivitis Caused by Cat-transmitted Sporothrix schenckii

“…Approximately 5%-10% of the cases are characterized by more severe diseases including mucosal, disseminated, and extracutaneous (pulmonary, osteoarticular, etc.) forms [ 2 ]. We report a rare case of sporotrichosis affecting the palpebral conjunctiva in an owner of a cat with atraumatic exposure to asporotrix-infected cat.…”

Special Issue “Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis”

“…Since the first description of the disease, its diagnosis has relied on the clinical manifestations, the direct examination of biological specimens, and the culturing of the microorganism [1]. However, the infection is pleiomorphic in terms of the clinical forms, which turns differential diagnosis into a difficult task, as revised here by Conceição-Silva and Morgado [8]. As proof of this, Tirado-Sánchez and Bonifaz revise the diagnosis of the sporotrichoid lymphocutaneous infection, the most frequent and characteristic form of sporotrichosis.…”

“…or any other pathogen requires basic knowledge of the host–pathogen interaction, the main determinants that assist the invader in colonizing and damaging tissues, as well as the antigenic molecules this may possess and which are therefore recognized by elements of the immune response. Here, Conceição-Silva and Morgado and García-Carnero et al summarize the current knowledge on the recognition of Sporothrix by the host immune system and identify the challenges that should be addressed in the near future [8,16].…”