Sporothrix schenckii

Sporothrix schenckii

• Saprophytic
• Thermally dimorphic fungus 
• Lives on vegetation.
•  Some times ‘asteroid bodies’ are seen in the lesion of sporotrichosis, composed of a central fungus cell with eosinophilic material radiating from it.

• Commonly seen in sub himalyan regions and farmers

Traumatic implantation

• The conidia or hyphal fragments of S schenckii are introduced into the skin by trauma(rose or pulm thorns/phagnum moss)
• Patients frequently recall a history of trauma associated with outdoor activities and plants.

C/Fs

Sporotrichosis 

I) Cutaneous (skin) sporotrichosis 

• Most common form of this disease. 
• About 75% of cases are lymphocutaneous; ie, the initial lesion develops as a granulomatous nodule that may progress to form a necrotic or ulcerative lesion. 
• Meanwhile, the draining lymphatics become thickened and cord-like. 
• Multiple subcutaneous nodules and abscesses occur along the lymphatics.
• Usually cutaneous sporotrichosis lesions occur in the finger, hand and arm. 

2) Pulmonary sporotrichosis

•  This rare form of the disease occur when S.schenckii spores are inhaled.
•  Symptoms include productive cough, nodules, cavitations and fibrosis of lungs; and hilar lymph node enlargement.
•  Patients with this form of sporotrichosis are susceptible to developing tuberculosis and pneumonia. 

3) Disseminated sporotrichosis

• When the infection spreads from the primary site to secondary sites in the body, the disease develops into a rare and critical form called disseminated sporotrichosis.
• The infection can spread to joints and bones (called osteoarticular sporotrichosis) as well as the CNS and brain (sporotrichosis meningitis).

• Oral itraconazole or another of the azoles is the treatment of choice.
• For systemic disease, amphotericin B is given

Don’t Forget to Solve all the previous Year Question asked on Sporothrix schenckii
Click Here to Start Quiz