Ocorrência e distribuição da esporotricose felina no município de Parnamirim, estado do Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii which causes localized or disseminated cutaneous lesions, lymphatic or systemic, which affects humans and animals, mainly felines, being an emerging zoonosis of worldwide distribution. Zoonotic transmission is the main form of human infection in Brazil, which occurs through the bite or scratches of infected animals. Since 2006, the disease in animals and humans has been diagnosed in several northeastern states, including Rio Grande do Norte, reaching the municipality of Parnamirim/RN, where little is known about its casuistry, distribution and local epidemiological characteristics. Therefore, this work aims to verify the occurrence and distribution of feline sporotrichosis in the city of Parnamirim/RN. Secondary data provided by the Zoonoses Surveillance Unit - UVZ - of the city were used, from January 2020 to September 2021. The research was carried out by collecting data related to the care of cats suspected of sporotrichosis provided by the UVZ in this period. Of the 83 forms evaluated, 79 (95.18%) were considered positive, whose diagnoses were made by the clinical-epidemiological method (48; 57.83%), or clinical examination associated with cytology (31; 37.34). Most of the affected animals, 69.62% were male (55/79), 17.72% (14/79) were female and, in 12.66% (10/79), there was no information about sex. Only 6.33% (5/79) of the animals were treated, however, due to the seriousness of the clinical course of the disease and the lack of conditions of the guardians for treatment, the majority, 79.75% (63/79) were submitted to euthanasia. Cases of feline sporotrichosis were distributed in 88% (22/25) of the neighborhoods in the city of Parnamirim/RN, especially Bairro Jardim Planalto. This indicates the high dissemination capacity of this agent and the wide distribution of this zoonosis in the municipal territory, being a problem for public health.