Report
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a microscopy technique in which a beam of electrons is transmitted through an ultrathin specimen and an image is formed from the interaction of the electrons transmitted through the specimen.1 Feline transmission of sporotrichosis (Figure 2) was associated with a large and long-lasting outbreak of the disease in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.2 Our goal is to characterize the cellular profile of the injuries caused by Sporothrix schenckii through electron microscopy. Thirty skin lesion specimens were collected and prepared as described.1 The sections were examined with a Jeol 1011 transmission electron microscope. All patients had isolated S. schenckii in culture (Figure 2A and 2B). Our results showed the presence of inflammatory infiltrates composed of monocytes (Figure 1A) and neutrophils (Figure 1B). Mast cells (Figure 1C) and immature and mature macrophages were observed. Lesions were a typical feature, and a large number of cells underwent a process of cell death (Figure 1D), such as necrosis (Figure 1E). It was also observed that a large amount of fibroblasts presented well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum profiles, thus suggesting an intense production of collagen occupying large areas of the lesion (Figure 1F) that causes fibrosis. Taken together, our data support that TEM is a useful tool that provides both morphological and ultrastructural information as well as matrix changes and cellular components that form the cellular infiltrate in S. schenckii infection.
Patients with the sporotrichosis epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ultrastructural analysis of dermal lesions caused by Sporothrix schenkii. (A and B) Inflammatory infiltrates composed of neutrophils (NØ) and monocytes. (C) Degranulated mast cells. (D) Large numbers of cells undergoing a process of cell death showing large numbers of vacuoles. (E) Cells in necrosis, with loss of cell membrane and organelles disorganization were observed. (F) Fibroblasts (FDs) showing well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and mature macrophages (MØs). Col = collagen; N = cell nucleus.
Citation: The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 92, 2; 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0401
Sick cats with the sporotrichosis epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (A) S. schenckii. This fungus is dimorphic with a mycelial phase (25°C). (B) S. schenckii. This fungus is dimorphic with a yeast phase (37°C).
Citation: The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 92, 2; 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0401
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Drs. Rodrigo de Almeida Paes, Euzenir Nunes Sarno, and José Augusto da Costa Nery for support and valuable tips.
- 1.↑
Madrid IM, Mattei AS, Soares MP, Nobre MO, Meireles MCA, 2011. Ultrastructural study of the mycelial phase of clinical isolates of Sporothrix schenckii obtained from feline, canine and human cases of sporotrichosis. Braz J Microbiol 42: 1147–1150.
- 2.↑
Schubach AO, Schubach TM, Barros MB, 2005. Epidemic cat-transmitted sporotrichosis. N Engl J Med 353: 1185–1186.