Esporotricose: relato de casos atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da UFPB.

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis caused by species of the Sporothrix schenckii Complex. The disease affects several animal species besides man, including felines. Intimate contact between humans and felines is a risk factor in the transmission of zoonotic sporotrichosis, associated with bites and scratches. Since 2016, the state of Paraíba has been experiencing an outbreak of sporotrichosis, with a large number of cases in the city of João Pessoa, and few case reports in other cities. The purpose of this work was to add literature on the epidemiological situation in the state of Paraíba. From January 2016 to December 2019, the preventive veterinary medicine sector at the Veterinary Hospital of UFPB registered complementary tests for 19 cats with suspected sporotrichosis from 8 cities in Paraíba, most of them in the city of João Pessoa. Of the animals, 14 were positive for Sporothrix sp., most affected were male, adult, non-neutered, with access to the street; 72% of the animals had contacts in the environment in which they lived. Skin lesions were mainly distributed on the head and thoracic limbs (present in 57% of the animals). Most animals (64%) did not return for clinical follow-up. Data on reported cases reinforce the epidemiological profile of the disease in felines, and show that the disease is present in other cities of the state in addition to capital. It is suggested to conduct molecular studies, in order to endorse the decisions in the conduct of the disease in Paraiba.