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Sporotrichosis is a global implantation or subcutaneous mycosis caused by several members of the genus Sporothrix, a thermo-dimorphic fungus. This disease may also depict an endemic profile, especially in tropical to subtropical zones around the world. Interestingly, sporotrichosis is an anthropozoonotic disease that may be transmitted to humans by plants or by animals, especially cats. It may be associated with rather isolated or clustered cases but also with outbreaks in different periods and geographic regions. Usually, sporotrichosis affects immunocompetent hosts, presenting a chronic to subacute evolution course. Less frequently, sporotrichosis may be acquired by inhalation, leading to disseminated clinical forms. Both modes of infection may occur in immunocompromised patients, especially associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but also diabetes mellitus, chronic alcoholism, steroids, anti-TNF treatment, hematologic cancer and transplanted patients. Similar to other endemic mycoses caused by dimorphic fungi, sporotrichosis in immunocompromised hosts may be associated with rather more severe clinical courses, larger fungal burden and longer periods of systemic antifungal therapy. A prolonged outbreak of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis is in progress in Brazil and potentially crossing the border to neighboring countries. This huge outbreak involves thousands of human and cats, including immunocompromised subjects affected by HIV and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), respectively. We reviewed the main epidemiologic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of sporotrichosis in immunocompromised hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporotrichosis is a global implantation or subcutaneous mycosis caused by several members of the genus Sporothrix, a thermo-dimorphic fungus. This disease may also depict an endemic profile, especially in tropical to subtropical zones around the world. Interestingly, sporotrichosis is an anthropozoonotic disease that may be transmitted to humans by plants or by animals, especially cats. It may be associated with rather isolated or clustered cases but also with outbreaks in different periods and geographic regions. Usually, sporotrichosis affects immunocompetent hosts, presenting a chronic to subacute evolution course. Less frequently, sporotrichosis may be acquired by inhalation, leading to disseminated clinical forms. Both modes of infection may occur in immunocompromised patients, especially associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but also diabetes mellitus, chronic alcoholism, steroids, anti-TNF treatment, hematologic cancer and transplanted patients. Similar to other endemic mycoses caused by dimorphic fungi, sporotrichosis in immunocompromised hosts may be associated with rather more severe clinical courses, larger fungal burden and longer periods of systemic antifungal therapy. A prolonged outbreak of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis is in progress in Brazil and potentially crossing the border to neighboring countries. This huge outbreak involves thousands of human and cats, including immunocompromised subjects affected by HIV and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), respectively. We reviewed the main epidemiologic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of sporotrichosis in immunocompromised hosts.

Visceral leishmaniasis is basically a disease of healthy infants and adults. However, in the last decade an increasing number of cases of kala azar in immunocompromised patients have been reported with emphasis on atypical manifestations of the disease. During a period of 11 years, 20 immunocompromised patients with AIDS (12 patient), haematological neoplasia (3 patients), corticosteroid therapy (3 patients) or renal transplantation (2 patients) were studied by one or more of the authors. We did not find differences in the presentation of leishmaniasis between patient with or without AIDS and most patients had fever, enlargement of the liver and spleen, blood cytopenias and biochemical abnormalities. Serology was more frequently positive in HIV-negative than in HIV-positive patients (100% versus 63.6%; P=0.13). Bone marrow biopsy was diagnostic in 66% and 87% of patients with and without AIDS, respectively. Failure of anti-leishmanial therapy occurred in 6 of 19 patients treated (31.5%), and 3 patients with AIDS and another 3 without AIDS died during the first episode of leishmaniasis. Of 12 survivors, relapses occurred in five (41.6%). Only patients in whom immunosuppression was ameliorated by means of antiretroviral therapy or by reduction of corticosteroid and other immunosuppressive drugs did not relapse. Treatment of kala azar in immunocompromised host is in satisfactory and new drugs or strategies are urgently needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]