A case of sporotrichosis in Western Australia

Case report: Sporotrichosis from the Northern Territory of Australia

We report three cases of lymphocutaneous infection caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii from Australia's tropical Northern Territory. Two cases were acquired locally, making them the first to be reported from this region. All three cases presented with ulceration in the limb; however, the classical sporotrichoid spread was present only in the first two cases. Their occurrence within several weeks of each other was suggestive of a common source of environmental contamination such as hay used as garden mulch. Diagnoses were delayed in each case, with each patient having substantial exposure to ineffective antibiotics before the correct diagnosis was made. These cases bring the total number of reported sporotrichosis cases in Australia since 1951 to 199. Lessons from these cases are to consider the diagnosis of sporotrichosis in lesions of typical appearance, even in geographical settings from where this pathogen has not previously been reported.

Sporotrichosis: a review of 39 cases

In a series of 39 cases of cutaneous sporotrichosis, 37 were of the localized cutaneous type and only 2 of the lymphangitic variety. Fungi were identified histologically in every case, most often as asteroid bodies which were found in all but 3 lesions. Cultures were occasionally negative even though asteroids or yeast-like forms were present in tissue sections. A histological diagnosis should be possible in all cases if a sufficient number of serial sections are examined by H & E and the PAS method.