Canine sporotrichosis: polyphasic taxonomy and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Sporothrix species in an endemic area in Brazil

Abstract

Sporotrichosis, a mycosis caused by pathogenic species of the genus Sporothrix, affects diverse species of mammals. Until 2007, Sporothrix schenckii was considered the unique etiologic agent of sporotrichosis. Canine sporotrichosis is a poorly reported disease, and the majority of cases are from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There are scarce studies on the characterization of canine isolates of Sporothrix schenckii complex, as well as few antifungal susceptibility data available. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical isolates of Sporothrix from dogs from Brazil at species level and evaluate their antifungal susceptibility profile. Polyphasic taxonomy was used to characterization at species level (morphological, phenotypical characteristics, and molecular identification). Antifungal susceptibility profiles (amphotericin B, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, and terbinafine) were determined using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution method (M38-A2). According to phenotypic identification and molecular analysis, 46 isolates included in this study were identified as S. brasiliensis and one as S. schenckii. Amphotericin B presented the highest minimum inhibitory concentration values, and the other drugs showed effective in vitro antifungal activity. This is the first report of S. schenckii in dogs from Brazil, since S. brasiliensis is the only species that has been described in canine isolates from Rio de Janeiro to date. Nevertheless, no differences were observed in the antifungal susceptibility profiles between the S. brasiliensis and S. schenckii isolates, and it is important to continuously study new canine clinical isolates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Sporothrix brasiliensis and Feline Sporotrichosis in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1998–2018)

“…However, other studies investigating human, feline, and canine isolates of Sporothrix sp. from Brazil have identified other species, including S. schenckii sensu stricto in a canine case [ 71 ], in feline cases [ 43 , 72 ], and in humans [ 20 , 34 ], as well as S. luriei in a canine case [ 43 ], and S. globosa only in humans [ 73 ]. The description of other Sporothrix species from Brazil, including in dogs and humans from the same geographical region of this study, indicates that they may be circulating among cats in Rio de Janeiro; however, these other Sporothrix species in cats from this region have not yet been confirmed.…”

Special issue on sporotrichosis: challenges to deal with the new emerging pathogenic species

“…Nakasu et al [6] describe the therapeutic history of feline cases infected by itraconazole-resistant S. brasiliensis isolates in an endemic region of Southern Brazil. On the other hand, canine sporotrichosis is a poorly reported disease, and the majority of cases are from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as described here by Boechat et al [7]. The authors report a S. schenckii infection in dogs, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.…”

Global distribution of animal sporotrichosis: A systematic review of Sporothrix sp. identified using molecular tools

“…Most isolates were reported from South America ( n = 216 or 81%), followed by Asia ( n = 28 or 10%), and Central America and Oceania ( n = 1 or 0,37%) less frequently. After the description of new species of the genus Sporothrix, the identification of clinical isolates has been carried out worldwide, especially in regions where a large number of sporotrichosis cases occurs ( Boechat et al., 2021 ), such as in southeastern Brazil, considered a zoonotic epidemic area of sporotrichosis ( Gremião et al., 2017 ).…”

“…When we refer to dogs, other important domestic animals with strict relationship with humans, only Italy (S. mexicana) and Brazil (S. brasiliensis, S. schenckii and S. luriei) samples of these animals were isolated in our study, as shown by Boechat et al. (2021) and Viana et al.…”

“…Similarly, to humans, dogs have three clinical forms of the disease: localized cutaneous, lymphocutaneous, and disseminated form ( Crothers et al., 2009 ; Boechat et al., 2021 ). However, canine sporotrichosis is rare, with scarce case reports ( Viana et al., 2018 ).…”