ABSTRACT
Sporotrichosis is a mycosis caused by the geophilic fungus Sporothrixschenckii that can infect different species of animals, including humans. The mycosis has a worldwide distribution, mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions. The infection is usually associated with the traumatic inoculation of soil, vegetables or organic materials contaminated by the fungus, being, therefore, considered an occupational mycosis, affecting mainly rural workers. The zoonotic potential of the domestic feline has been recognized since the 1980s, due to the presence of a great number of microorganisms present in this animal species. Concerning the important epidemiological role of the domestic feline, this study describes a case of cutaneous sporotrichosis with ascendant lymphangitis in a rural worker contaminated by an asymptomatic feline. One 40-year-old human male presented nodular injuries 15 days after being scratched by a cat. Samples of lesion exudates were collected for mycological analysis, which resulted in the isolation of the S. schenckii. After the diagnostic confirmation of sporotrichosis, treatment with cetoconazol was started, which resulted in the regression of the lesions. This study emphasizes the importance of the domestic feline as an important carrier of the sporotrichosis agent for humans.
KEY WORDS
Sporotrichosis; zoonosis; cat
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