Sporothrix Mold
[as explained on doctorfungus.org]
Sporothrix is a thermally dimorphic fungus which is
distributed worldwide and isolated from soil, living and decomposing
plants, woods, and peat moss. Sporothrix schenckii is an
occasional cause of human infections.
Sporothrix schenckii is the pathogenic species, while
Fugomyces cyanescens is considered to be nonpathogenic.
Sporothrix schenckii is the causative agent of
sporotrichosis ("rose handler's disease"). Sporotrichosis is a
subcutaneous infection with a common chronic and a rare progressive
course. The infection starts following entry of the infecting fungus
through the skin via a minor trauma and may affect an otherwise healthy
individual. Following entry, the infection may spread via the lymphatic
route. Nodular lymphangitis may develop. Interestingly, an epidemic of
sporotrichosis after sleeping in a rust-stained camping tent has been
reported and the tent was identified as the source of infection.
Patients infected with Sporothrix schenckii may be misdiagnosed
as pyoderma gangrenosum due to the large ulcerations observed during the
course of sporotrichosis.
Pulmonary and osteoarticular infections, granulamatous tenosynovitis and
carpal tunnel syndrome, bursal infection, endophthalmitis, meningitis,
invasive sinusitis, and disseminated [1439,
2181] sporotrichosis have been described. The infection remains
localized in immunocompetent individuals while fungemia and disseminated
infection may be observed in immunocompromised patients, such as those
with AIDS. Fatal fungemia may develop also in patients with diabetes
mellitus and alcoholism. Primary (granulamatous) pneumonia without any
cutaneous disease may develop in alcoholics. Laboratory-acquired
sporotrichosis has also been reported.
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