The first 3 reported cases of Sporothrix brasiliensis cat-transmitted #sporotrichosis outside South America
1 was a π© who had last traveled to π§π· 3 y earlier, 1 was her daughter (via their π), & 1 was a vet infected by a π exported from π§π· 3y earlier
sciencedirect.com
1 was a π© who had last traveled to π§π· 3 y earlier, 1 was her daughter (via their π), & 1 was a vet infected by a π exported from π§π· 3y earlier
sciencedirect.com
Why does this matter? Most dimorphic fungal pathogens exist in a mould phase in the environment (usually soil) and infections occur from inhaling the spores these release into the air. The geographic range is restricted because the fungus can only survive in certain soils
In contrast, cat-transmitted sporotrichosis does not involve a soil phase (infection from the yeast phase on nails/teeth/skin of cats), and so the fungus can theoretically survive/thrive anywhere there are cats.
The causative fungus, Sporothrix brasiliensis was only described in the 90s but is much more virulent than other Sporothrix species associated with plants. Cases of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis have increased exponentially in parts of Brazil in the last 2 decades
So if cats exported from Brazil can infect local cats, the fungus will become endemic elsewhere, which would be disastrous. This report suggests cats and people can be asymptomatic carriers (on their nails/skin/fur? Elsewhere?) with later deactivation/transmission
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