Ocular sporotrichosis in veterinary medicine professionals: Case reports and a warning for zoonotic transmission.

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a dermal zoonosis caused by the fungus of the Sporothrix genus, naturally found in the soil. However, the most relevant transmission, currently, occurs through scratching, biting and contact with the lesions discharge of infected felines, therefore, veterinary doctors, nurses and veterinary medicine students are part of the most affected group by the disease. In humans, the most observed clinical form is the cutaneous lymphatic, yet, reports of other unusual presentations in patients without comorbidities, for example, mucosal and conjunctival involvement, were made. In the present study, two cases of extracutaneous ophthalmic sporotrichosis in humans with the development of sequels were described. This clinical presentation is usually related to the inhalation of spores, but it does not seem to have occurred in any of the cases. It is crucial to elucidate the accidents during the work of veterinarians and the importance of biosafety protocols for these professionals.