Fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis is a differential diagnosis that can be considered in diabetic patients who present with a poorly healing ulcer. Although its prevalence is low, it can occur in patients with immunocompromised status. Here we report a case of a 70-year-old man with diabetes mellitus who presented with a 1-month history of an unhealed ulcer over the tip of his left middle finger. He experienced a cat bite over his left middle finger 1 month prior to the appearance of the lesion. A skin biopsy revealed the presence of Sporothrix schenckii. Oral itraconazole 200 mg twice daily was started empirically and the patient showed marked improvement in the skin lesion after 2 months of therapy.
Aged* ; Animals ; Biopsy ; Cats ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fingers* ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Prevalence ; Skin ; Sporothrix ; Sporotrichosis ; Ulcer*

Sporotrichosis is a chronic cutaneous fungal infection caused by Sporothrix (S.) schenckii complex. Fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis is one of the three subtype of sprotrichosis and accounts for 20% of total sporotrichosis cases. However, the incidence of total sporotrichosis cases is decreasing recently due to improvement of personal hygiene and industrialization. A 60-year-old woman presented to the hospital with multiple erythematous papules and ulcers on left cheek for 5 months. Histopathologic examination revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation and immunohistochemical staining was positive for GMS and PAS stain. The fungal culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar showed grayish dark brown colonies and the sequences of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region of clinical sample was 100% similarity with S. globosa. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole 200 mg daily and topical ketoconazole cream for 3 months. At that time after this treatment, skin lesion was almost cured and recurrence is not observed to date.
Agar ; Cheek ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Itraconazole ; Ketoconazole ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Sporothrix* ; Sporotrichosis* ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Japan* ; Sporothrix* ; Sporotrichosis*

No abstract available.
Japan* ; Sporothrix* ; Sporotrichosis*

BACKGROUND: Sporotrichosis is a chronic, deep fungal infection caused by a dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. It is widely variable in incidence, distribution and clinical pattern. Clinical manifestations are greatly variable, with important involvement of the skin and the superficial lymphatic system. Although sporotrichosis is the most common deep fungal infection in Korea, few reports have included a long term investigation and survey of sporotrichosis. OBJECTIVE: We investigated patients' records for 42 years to identify the prevalence, epidemiological features and changes in clinical findings on sporotrichosis. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 118 patients with sporotrichosis for 42 years (1997~2009) by reviewing the medical records and making phone calls to patients if needed. RESULTS: The incidence of sporotrichosis is on a decreasing tendency at this time and incidents were more common for rural residents (80 cases, 67.8%) than urban residents (38 cases, 32.2%). Lymphocutaneous type (86 cases, 73%) is more common than fixed cutaneous type (32 cases, 27%) and the most frequent occupation of patients was farmer (71 cases, 60%). Seasonally, 42 cases (36%) occurred in winter (December to February), showing higher incidency than any other season. The most common site of the skin lesion was right upper extremity. CONCLUSION: We found considerable changes in prevalence, seasonal distribution and clinical findings of sporotrichosis over 42 years.
Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lymphatic System ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Skin ; Sporothrix ; Sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis is a mycosis caused by a saprophytic dimorphic fungus named Sporothrix schenckii. Infections occur following traumatic inoculation of fungus from plants and infected cat bites and scratches. We report a case of a farmer who presented with a solitary subcutaneous nodule initially diagnosed as a soft tissue tumour. A history of agricultural activity and feline contact should draw the clinician's attention to sporotrichosis, as the diagnosis can be easily missed in atypical cases. The diagnosis, microbiology and management of the case are discussed.
Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Sporothrix/isolation & purification ; Sporotrichosis/*diagnosis ; Sporotrichosis/microbiology ; Sporotrichosis/surgery

BACKGROUND: Sporotrichosis is a subacute to chronic, deep fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii and has a wide variety of clinical presentations. Although sporotrichosis is the most common deep fungal infection in Korea, few reports have included a long term investigation and survey of sporotrichosis. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed patients' records for 38 recent years to identify the incidence and changes in clinical findings on sporotrichosis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 71 patients with sporotrichosis for 38 recent years (1968~2005) by reviewing the medical records and making phone calls to patients if needed. RESULTS: The incidence of sporotrichosis is currently on a decreasing trend and incidents were more common for rural residents (43 cases, 60.6%) than urban residents (28 cases, 39.4%). The most frequent occupation of patients was 'farmer' (37 cases, 52%). Seasonally, twenty seven cases (38.0%) occurred in winter (December to February), showing higher incidence than any other season. Lympho-cutaneous type (53 cases, 74.6%) is more common than fixed cutaneous type (18 cases, 25.4%) and the most common site of the initial lesion was left upper extremity. Of 47 patients who had primary lesion on upper extremity, 39 (83%) were of the lympho-cutaneous type, and of 15 patients who had primary lesion on face, 9 (60%) were of the fixed cutaneous type. CONCLUSION: According to this study, some changes in clinical findings and prevalence of sporotrichosis over the study period were noted. Further observation and analysis are required to clarify the meaning of these changes.
Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Sporothrix ; Sporotrichosis ; Upper Extremity

Sporotrichosis is a chronic cutaneous fungal infection caused by Sporothrix (S.) schenckii. It is subdivided into three groups by clinical manifestation: lymphocutaneous, fixed cutaneous, disseminated sporotrichosis. Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis is most common type and involves upper extremities usually. The incidence of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis on the face is very low, especially in children. We report a case of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis on face in a 10-month-old girl. The lesions represented linear three small erythematous papules on the right cheek. The fungal culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar showed dark brown to black colored wrinkled colonies. The microscopic examination showed septated, branched mycelia and clustered conidia in slide culture of S. schenckii. The patient was treated with oral administration of potassium iodide and the lesions were cured completely.
Administration, Oral ; Agar ; Cheek ; Child ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Potassium Iodide ; Spores, Fungal ; Sporothrix ; Sporotrichosis ; Upper Extremity

Catalase ; genetics ; Mycelium ; growth & development ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Sporothrix ; enzymology ; growth & development

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the DNA polymorphism of Sporothrix schenckii (S. schenckii) and to find the relationship between DNA patterns and geographic areas and clinical manifestations.

METHODThe total DNA was extracted with hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide. Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay was used to study DNA typing of 24 strains of S. schenckii collected from different areas and isolated from different clinical types.

RESULTSOf seven random primers used, three primers (OPAA11, OPD18 and OPB07) gave good reactions, the sequences of which were 5'-ACCCGACCTG-3', 5'-GAGAGCCAAC-3', 5'-GGTGAC~GCAG-3' respectively. The RAPD patterns of the 24 isolates were not completely identical, showing certain degrees of hereditary variability. Different isolates showed a common conserved DNA band with the same primer. Different clinical types showed different genotypes.

CONCLUSIONRAPD analysis is useful in DNA typing of S. schenckii, the DNA band type of which is related to geographic origin and Clinical manifestation.