Korean J Med Mycol.  2018 Jun;23(2):54-58. 10.17966/JMI.2018.23.2.54.

Familial Sporotrichosis Due to Human-to-human Infection of Sporothrix globosa: A Case Report

• Kim JG
• Kim HR
• You MH
• Shin DH
• Choi JS

• KMID: 2435704
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17966/JMI.2018.23.2.54

Abstract

Typically, sporotrichosis follows an environmental transmission route via traumatic inoculation of contaminated plant or soil matter. Although familial occurrences of sporotrichosis are rare, human-to-human transmission is even rarer. Herein, we report two cases, a father and son, with sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix (S.) globosa. A 33-year-old male who otherwise appeared healthy presented with a tender, erythematous, ulcerative crusted plaque on the left ala nasi and upper lip. A skin biopsy and mycological study revealed fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis. The patient irregularly received oral itraconazole with a relapsing course. Approximately a year later, his 3-year-old son developed a single plaque on the left leg. When the father carried his son on his shoulder, there was direct contact between the two lesions. Fungal culture results from the father and son's lesions confirmed S. globosa with ribosomal DNA ITS sequencing. In both patients, oral terbinafine exhibited better results than oral itraconazole. These cases are an excellent example of human-to-human transmission of sporotrichosis.

Keyword

Human-to-human transmission; Sporothrix globosa; Sporotrichosis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Biopsy
Child, Preschool
DNA, Ribosomal
Fathers
Humans
Itraconazole
Leg
Lip
Male
Plants
Shoulder
Skin
Soil
Sporothrix*
Sporotrichosis*
Ulcer
DNA, Ribosomal
Itraconazole
Soil