New Insights on Transmission of Sporothrix brasiliensis

BACKGROUND: Sporotrichosis is the most prevalent saprozoonotic implantation mycosis worldwide. OBJECTIVES: A prospective experimental study was performed to evaluate persistence on surfaces such as stainless steel medium-density fiberboard (MDF) wood, tile, and polyester fabric. METHODS: The different surfaces were homogeneously contaminated using the yeast phase of Sporothrix brasiliensis. Fungal culture was carried out in triplicate on Mycosel agar, at time 0 and then every 24 h, until 792 h (33 days). RESULTS: Sporothrix brasiliensis persists on MDF wood for up to 240 h (10 days), tile for 288 h (12 days), polyester fabric for 384 h (16 days), and stainless steel for up to 600 h (25 days). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, in concordance with published clinical reports suggesting fomite transmission, we propose an updated schematic of S. brasiliensis transmission. This is the first in vitro study about the persistence of S. brasiliensis on different surfaces, which is essential to understand transmission routes for a One Health Approach.