Mucocutaneous sporotrichosis B42.8

Cutaneous/extracutaneous systemic sporotrichosis with involvement of skin and mucosa. Sporotrichosis is a subacute or chronic infectious disease, usually confined to the skin and subcutis, caused by pathogens of the Sporotrix schenkii complex. The representatives are dimorphic fungi. They are culturally detectable within a few days at room temperature. The mucocutaneous form often develops when the immune system is poor.

The dimorphic fungus Sporotrix schenckii (Sporotrichon schenckii) is a soil saprophyte that lives in a climate with an average temperature of 20-25C° on rotting wood and dying plants. In this respect the infection occurs mainly in the rural population.

Besides Sporotrix schenckii sensu stricto, the sporotrichon complex comprises 4 other species:

• S. albicans
• S.brasiliensis
• S.globosa
• S. Mexicana

Animals represent a reservoir of pathogens. Starting from dogs, cats, horses, muskrats, pigs, birds, reptiles (zoonosis), scratching or biting injuries can lead to infection.

Worldwide, North America, Japan, mainly tropics and subtropics, only sporadically in Europe. The only epidemic to date occurred in South Africa in the middle of the 20th century in mineworkers who were infected by mine wood infected by Sporotrix schenckii.

This form of a systemic form of sporotrichosis is found in immunocompromised individuals. HIV-infected persons are particularly at risk. In addition to skin and mucous membrane, mycotic granulomas can also occur in other organs, such as muscles and bones.

1. de Beurmann CL, Gougerot H (1912) Les sporotrichoses. F. Alcan, Paris
2. Eisfelder M et al (1993) Experiences with 241 sporotrichosis cases in Chiba/Japan. dermatologist 44: 524-528