Flórez-Muñoz SV, Alzate JF, Mesa-Arango AC. Molecular Identification and Antifungal Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Sporothrix schenckii Complex in Medellin, Colombia.
Mycopathologia 2018;
184:53-63. [PMID:
30554299 DOI:
10.1007/s11046-018-0310-5]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that affects humans and other animals. Infection prevails in tropical and subtropical countries. Until a few years ago, it was considered that two varieties of Sporothrix schenckii caused this mycosis, but by applying molecular taxonomic markers, it has been demonstrated that there are several cryptic species within S. schenckii complex which varies in susceptibility, virulence, and geographic distribution.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to identify the clinical isolates of Sporothrix spp. from patients with sporotrichosis in Medellin, Colombia, using two markers and to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility to itraconazole.
METHODS
Thirty-four clinical isolates of Sporothrix spp. from Colombia, three from Mexico, and one from Guatemala were identified through sequencing of the noncoding region ITS-1 + 5.8SDNAr + ITS-2 and of the fragment containing exons 3 and 4 of the β-tubulin gene. Clinical isolate sequences were compared with GenBank reference sequences using the BLASTN tool, and then, phylogenetic analysis was performed. Besides, the in vitro susceptibility to itraconazole was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations according to the CLSI M38-A2 method.
RESULTS
Clinical isolates were identified by morphology as Sporothrix spp. Using the molecular markers, ITS and β-tubulin, isolates were identified as S. schenckii sensu stricto (25) and Sporothrix globosa (13). Susceptibility to itraconazole was variable among clinical isolates.
CONCLUSION
This is the first scientific publication that identifies species that cause sporotrichosis in Colombia, along with the antifungal susceptibility to itraconazole.
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