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Sporothrix davidellisii: A new pathogenic species belonging to the Sporothrix pallida complex

Summary

Scientists have identified a new fungal species called Sporothrix davidellisii that causes an infection in cats. This fungus was found in an infected cat in Australia and is related to other fungi that cause sporotrichosis, a skin disease in humans and animals. The discovery shows that cats can help scientists identify new fungal pathogens in their environments, making them important sentinels for tracking emerging diseases.

Background

Sporothrix species are dimorphic fungi with diverse ecological roles, ranging from mammalian and plant pathogens to saprophytic organisms. While the S. pallida complex comprises primarily nonpathogenic soil-dwelling species, some members demonstrate mild pathogenic potential in mammals. This study describes a novel Sporothrix species isolated from a case of feline sporotrichosis in Australia.

Objective

To characterize and formally describe a novel Sporothrix species isolated from a domestic cat in Melbourne, Australia, through phylogenetic, genomic, and morphological analyses to establish its distinctiveness within the S. pallida complex.

Results

Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the isolate’s distinct placement within the S. pallida complex with ITS sequence identity to nearest relatives not exceeding 97.6%. The assembled genome is 39.02 Mb with 12,631 predicted genes. The species exhibits yeast-like growth at 37°C with ellipsoid to ovoid budding cells and can tolerate temperatures up to 40°C, differentiating it from other S. pallida complex members through distinctive elongated clavate sympodial conidia and sessile conidia.

Conclusion

Sporothrix davidellisii is formally recognized as a novel pathogenic species within the S. pallida complex. The findings underscore the importance of multimarker molecular approaches for accurate species delineation in Sporothrix and highlight cats as environmental sentinels for emerging fungal pathogens through their propensity for mycotic infections.
  • Published in:Medical Mycology,
  • Study Type:Descriptive/Taxonomic Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40216404, DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myaf034
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