Isolation of Sporothrix schenckii from nature and considerations on its pathogenicity and ecology.

Seven strains of Sporothrix schenckii were isolated from 125 samples of plant debris and soil and all were pathogenic for the mouse. This pathogenic action was apparent from the very outset upon injecting the materials or cultures which had not been previously inoculated into animals.More frequently, non-pathogenic strains were isolated which did not groduce pigmented radula-spores either on corn-meal agar or on willow wood. These cultures in spite of showing some resemblances when grown on Sabouraud's glucose agar could not be identified as S. schenckii.Almost one half of our 157 patients with sporotrichosis related the infection to armadillo hunting. The examination of 15 armadillos Dasypus septemcinctus did not show infection nor the growth of the fungus from the epidermis or intestine. S. schenckii was isolated from dry grass used by armadillos and rodents to prepare their nests in burrows in the ground or in fallen, rotten, partially hollow tree-trunks.A strain of S. schenckii was isolated from 1 of ...