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

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

The 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.