Sporotrichosis is a neglected and emerging mycosis caused by the traumatic implantation of Sporothrix propagules into the (sub)cutaneous tissues of humans and animals. We evaluated canine sporotrichosis's clinical-therapeutic, epidemiological profile and in vitro susceptibility of isolates to itraconazole. The variables were evaluated by a chi-square test. Sixty-nine dogs were infected with Sporothrix spp., and the molecular identification revealed an overwhelming occurrence of S. brasiliensis as the etiological agent. The epidemiological profile was male (56.5%), adults (4.9 ± 1.92 years old; 69.6%), and mongrels (53.6%). The clinical signs were 76.8%, ulcers, draining tracts, and nodules were predominant, mainly in the nasal region (82.2%). Dogs were diagnosed late with an evolution time of up to three months (34.8%). According to the prior therapeutic information, 52.2% received empirical therapy, 79.2% antibiotics, and had a 0.29 significantly greater chance of presenting lesion evolution time greater than three months (p < 0.05; OR 1/0.29). Additionally, 25 Sporothrix brasiliensis isolates recovered between 2006–2012 (n = 15; MIC: 0.06-2 μg/ml) and 2013–2018 (n = 10; MIC: 2→16 μg/ml) were tested against itraconazole. These findings highlighted the resistance to itraconazole in clinical cases due to Sporothrix brasiliensis occurring after 2013, showing the temporal evolution of itraconazole resistance. We warn of the importance of accurate and early diagnosis in Sporothrix-affected areas, and we report the emergence of itraconazole-resistant isolates in Southern Brazil. Sporotrichosis is a fungal zoonosis. We investigated the clinical-therapeutic, epidemiological profile and in vitro susceptibility of isolates to itraconazole of canine cases in Southern Brazil. Our study highlighted the emergence of itraconazole-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis and the main challenges for clinical control of this neglected disease.

An unneutered female cat of unknown age presented bloody lesions on the edematous face, and respiratory signs. Cytology and culture from the skin sample collected with fine-needle aspiration showed yeasts inside activated macrophages, and fungal growth characteristic of Histoplasma spp., which was molecularly confirmed that was Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum. The cat was successfully treated with oral itraconazole (10 mg/kg/daily) for 120 days. This is the first case report of feline histoplasmosis confirmed molecularly in Brazil.

Descrevem-se os aspectos epidemiológicos das doenças causadas por fungos e oomicetos na população de equinos na região sudeste do Rio Grande do Sul, estabelecendo as taxas epidemiológicas, suas causas e sua importância sanitária na região. Foi realizada a epidemiologia descritiva por meio do cálculo da incidência das doenças encontradas ao longo dos anos e verificada a existência de associação entre a ocorrência dessas enfermidades e o sexo, a raça e a estação do ano. Entre os anos de 1978 e 2014 a pitiose teve prevalência de 49,71% (86/173), as micotoxicoses 30,05% (52/173), sendo 45 casos de leucoencefalomalácia e sete de ergotismo. As micoses tiveram prevalência de 19,65% (34/173), sendo as dermatofitoses as mais prevalentes com 58,82% (20/34) dos casos. As espécies de dermatófitos mais frequentemente isoladas foram Trichophyton mentagrophytes 60% (12/20), Trichophyton equinum 25% (5/20) e Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis e Trichophyton verrucosum ambos responsáveis por 5% (1/20) das infecções. Rinosporidiose foi diagnosticada em 35,29% (12/34) dos casos. Micoses uterinas causadas por Candida albicans e Cryptococcus laurentii foram observadas em 5,88% (2/34) dos casos. Alergia por Cladosporium sp. teve um registro. De acordo com as incidências calculadas entre 1990 e 2014 a pitiose teve incidência mediana (IM) 2,98 e distância interquartil (DI) =3,82, as fêmeas tiveram chance 4,18 vezes maiores de desenvolver a doença, a enfermidade ocorre independente das estações climáticas. A leucoencefalomalácia teve IM=0,0; DI 1,00 e equinos machos tiveram 3,4 vezes mais chance de desenvolver a doença que fêmeas, no inverno a possibilidade de ocorrência dessa enfermidade foi seis vezes maior. O ergotismo teve IM = 0,00; DI = 0,000, rinosporidiose IM=0,00; DI=0,088 e dermatofitose IM=0,00; DI=0,935. A pitiose foi mais prevalente entre as doenças encontradas, podendo ser considerada endêmica na região. Considera-se que a magnitude das doenças possa ser ainda maior dentro do rebanho equino, uma vez que as doenças descritas não são de notificação obrigatória e algumas são bem conhecidas por veterinários e proprietários, que muitas vezes não fazem a confirmação laboratorial do diagnóstico.

Feline sporotrichosis is a relevant mycose in veterinary medicine due to its severity and zoonotic potential and the fact that it can be difficult to treat. The immune status of the animal exerts influence on the prognosis of the disease and determines its clinical outcome. This study evaluated the efficacy of the immunomodulatory thymomodulin as an adjunct to antifungal therapy in cats with disseminated sporotrichosis; thymomodulin was used in association with itraconazole (ITL) and potassium iodide (KI) to treat this fungal disease in the feline patient. Thirty-one cats (n=31) diagnosed with disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis were divided into two groups as follows: Group 1 (G1) (n=16), which included those animals that were treated with thymomodulin in association with ITL and KI, and Group 2 (G2) (n=15) which had pacientsthat received ITL and KI only. The response to different treatment modalities was assessed, considering the survival rate, time frame for the lesions to respond to therapy, and clinical improvement or deterioration according to a body condition score system. Animals from G1 had a survival rate of nearly 100% (93.6%) that was approximately twice higher than the survival rate of those animals from G2 (53%). Moreover, patients from G1 had a significantly better prognosis, improved body condition, and shorter time for remission of the extra cutaneous clinical signs (p<0.02). Our findings showed that the association of thymomodulin with ITL and KI improves the prognosis of cats with disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis.

A oliveira (Olea europaea L.) é uma planta frutífera, nativa das regiões tropicais e temperadas e uma das mais antigas cultivadas. O uso de extratos vegetais de conhecida atividade antimicrobiana podem adquirir significado nos tratamentos terapêuticos. O objetivo do trabalho é avaliar a atividade antifúngica dos resíduos da indústria de Oliveiras (bagaço) na variedade Picual e de partes vegetativas de cultivares de oliveira (Olea europaea L.) das variedades Arbequina e Picual, frente à Candida spp., Microsporum gypseum e Sporothrix brasiliensis. A metodologia para os testes in vitro foi referenciada pelo documento M27-A3 preconizado pelo CLSI para as leveduras e M38-A2 para fungos filamentosos, adaptados para uso de fitoterápicos. A atividade antifúngica dos extratos hidroalcoólicos de folhas de Olea europaea L. se sobressaíram no resultado final, apresentando ação inibitória nas concentrações de 50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml e 200 mg/ml, seguido do extrato aquoso de decocção nas mesmas concentrações. Os extratos hidroalcoólicos do bagaço da variedade Picual e das folhas das variedades Picual e Arbequina apresentaram atividade fungistática promissora frente aos isolados de Microsporum gypseum, apresentando CIM que variaram de 100 mg/ml a 200 mg/ml. Os resultados demonstram potencial desses extratos no tratamento da dermatofitose, porém mais estudos devem ser realizados frente as demais espécies de dermatófitos para comprovação de sua efetividade, além de testes de citotoxidade. Os extratos de infusão e hidroalcoólicos das folhas da variedade Picual apresentaram maior ação inibitória frente aos isolados de Candida spp. e Sporothrix brasiliensis apresentando parâmetros importantes para apontar os produtos como uma alternativa terapêutica.

Sporothrix brasiliensis is the predominant etiological agent of feline sporotrichosis in Brazil, where zoonotic dissemination represents an escalating public health concern. Reports of therapeutic refractoriness and the emergence of itraconazole-resistant isolates underscore the pressing need for alternative antifungal strategies. This study evaluated in vitro antifungal activity of a biogenic silver nanoparticle against 24 Brazilian clinical isolates of S. brasiliensis (18 cats and 6 dogs). Broth microdilution assays revealed minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.47 to 3.75 µg/mL with fungicidal and fungistatic activity. Scanning electron microscopy of treated yeast cells demonstrated pronounced morphological alterations, including cell wall discontinuities, cavitations, surface roughness, and leakage of intracellular contents, confirming severe structural damage. These findings demonstrate that the biogenic silver nanoparticle evaluated exhibits antifungal activity against S. brasiliensis and may represent a promising therapeutic alternative for sporotrichosis. Nonetheless, further in vivo studies are needed to validate their safety and clinical applicability.