Phenotyping and Genotyping of Sporothrix schenckii Isolates According to Geographic Origin and Clinical Form of Sporotrichosis

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis especially frequent in Latin American countries with temperate and tropical climates. Due to the presence of Sporothrix schenckii fungal elements in vegetative matter, this disease is associated with different occupations such as gardening, forestry, and fieldwork (3,6,9,11,16,27). In Mexico (MX), Guatemala (GT), and Colombia (CO), it is a relevant mycosis mainly in farmers who work with a variety of vegetation in the field and individuals who manipulate fungus-contaminated material (10, 17, 21, 37). The fungus has been isolated from soil, different plants, and sphagnum moss (9,11,16,19,20), and when it is introduced into the host via trauma, the mycelial-saprophytic form changes to the yeast-parasitic form. Previous reports have demonstrated other forms of inoculation of infecting mycelia, such as mosquito bites and, probably, cat scratches, as recently demonstrated by molecular techniques in Brazil (R. S. Reis, T. M. P. Schubach, A. J. Guimarães, P. C. F. Monteiro, and R. M. Zancopé-Oliveira, Abstr. 14th Congr. Int. Soc. Hum. Anim. Mycol., abstr. 498, p. 133, 2000). Although the prevalence of this mycosis among AIDS patients is low, it is extremely serious in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients and becomes disseminated, with a poor prognosis (30).Researchers from Japan and the United States have performed epidemiological studies with S. schenckii isolates from Asia, the United States, and Australia based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms. They have shown 24 different genotypes divided into two groups: group A includes isolates from the United States, and group B includes isolates from Asia and Australia (12, 13; H. Ishizaki, H., M. Aoki, J. Lin, S. Wu, and J. A. Kim, Abstr. 14th Congr. Int. Soc. Hum. Anim. Mycol., abstr. 56, p. 120, 2000). Kawasaki et al. (M. Kawasaki, R. Arenas, C. Zaitz, J. T. Yamashita, and C. Rubio, Abstr. 14th Congr. Int. Soc. Hum. Anim. Mycol., abstr. 54, p. 120, 2000) also studied by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis isolates from Brazil, Mexico, and Spain, and again, two groups were formed: isolates from Brazil and Mexico were in group A, and those from Spain were in group B. Despite the widespread use of the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis method for genotypic characterization of other pathogenic fungi (5,18,23,25,34), identical DNA patterns for clinical isolates and isolates from infecting cats were

Molecular characterisation of Sporothrix schenckii isolates from humans and cats involved in the sporotrichosis epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…The band pattern of the US strain was totally different from those of Brazil, which is in accordance with results from other studies of S. schenckii, as well as with other pathogenic fungi, such as Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Histoplasma capsulatum (Muniz et al 2001, Mesa-Arango et al 2002, Hahn et al 2003. However, the genetic variability or polymorphic patterns found in different geographical areas can also be due to different ecological processes or genetic factors that promote these polymorphisms (Mesa-Arango et al 2002). Moreover, we cannot discard the possibility that new Sporothrix species are associated with the RJ epidemics, as suggested by Marimon et al (2007).…”

“…At present, no teleomorph is known for S. schenckii (de Beer et al 2003); however, we found, as with previous studies (Mesa-Arango et al 2002, O'Reilly & Altman 2006, Gutierrez-Galhardo et al 2008, some genetic variability in S. schenckii, especially when analysing strains from different countries. The band pattern of the US strain was totally different from those of Brazil, which is in accordance with results from other studies of S. schenckii, as well as with other pathogenic fungi, such as Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Histoplasma capsulatum (Muniz et al 2001, Mesa-Arango et al 2002, Hahn et al 2003.…”

Characterization of virulence profile, protein secretion and immunogenicity of differentSporothrix schenckii sensu strictoisolates compared withS. globosaandS. brasiliensisspecies

“…), was described, 5,6 many studies have demonstrated high genetic diversity among different clinical isolates. [7][8][9] Marimon et al (2006) 10 demonstrated that the fungus was actually a complex of cryptic species, 10 afterward separated into different phylogenetic species 11,12 including S. schenckii s. str., S. brasiliensis, S. globosa, S. mexicana and S. luriei.…”

Update on Fungal Disease: From Establish Infection to Clinical Manifestation

“…Both the cutaneous and lympho-cutaneous clinical forms can be acquired by injuries, thorns and scratches from animals [82], while pulmonary infection occurs by inhalation of spores. Immunosuppressive therapy contributes to the increased prevalence [83].…”