Sporotrichosis in India: First case in a Delhi resident and an update.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report the first case of sporotrichosis in a Delhi resident without history of travel to any known endemic area, and to present an update of the disease with special reference to India. METHODS: OThe case was tentatively diagnosed by clinical features, and confirmed by culture and histopathologic examination of a biopsy specimen. The update on the disease is based upon literature review (1932-2001). RESULTS: A 40-year-old female hospital employee developed lymphocutaneous lesions, involving her right middle finger, wrist and forearm following accidental pricking with a hypodermic syringe needle. A definitive diagnosis of sporotrichosis was established by culture of S. schenckii, verification of its dimorphic character, morphology in histopathologic sections and a positive pathogenicity test (intratesticular inoculation) in male white mice. The patient was successfully treated with saturated solution of potassium iodide. Of 205 cases compiled from literature, 91 (44%) came from West Bengal, 56 (28%) from Himachal Pradesh and 45 from Assam whereas the remaining 13 (6.3%) occurred sporadically in other states, including Bihar, Punjab and Karnataka. CONCLUSIONS: The available literature does not provide a true index of regional distribution of sporotrichosis in India. More correctly, it seems to reflect the distribution of groups of investigators with a special interest or expertise in sporotrichosis and S. schenckii. Further studies are likely to reveal new endemic areas for sporotrichosis.