Fatal pulmonary sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix schenckii var. luriei in India

Abstract

The first case of fatal pulmonary sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix schenckii var. luriei in a patient from the northwestern region of India is described. In the absence of cultures, the diagnosis was suspected by notation, in lung tissue, of large, thick-walled, hyaline fungal cells that divided internally by septation or a budding process. The thick-walled, internally septated cells often became muriform. The presence of an 'eyeglass' configuration of incompletely separated cells characteristic of S. schenckii var. luriei in large numbers aided the diagnosis. The identity of the etiologic agent was confirmed by application of a fluorescent-antibody reagent specific for S. schenckii.