ZOONOTIC TRANSMISSION OF SPOROTRICHOSIS - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

We report a case of sporotrichosis in a veterinarian who acquired the infection from a cat. Transmission was confirmed at the genetic level by demonstration that the two clinical isolates of Sporothrix schenckii had identical restriction-fragment-length profiles of whole-cell DNA. Review of the literature indicates that zoonotic transmission of sporotrichosis is rare and is virtually always associated with direct contact with an infected cat. Exposure to the large number of fungal organisms present in skin lesions of cats with sporotrichosis can result in transmission of infection to humans even without an associated penetrating injury. Since veterinarians and their assistants are at greatest risk, awareness of this mode of transmission and proper use of gloves when caring for cats with cutaneous ulcers should prevent most cases.