Feline sporotrichosis: an emerging disease in the Brazilian side of the Southern Triple Border

Abstract Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Sporotrichosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by fungi of the genus Sporothrix spp. Transmission can occur through sapronotic, enzootic, and zoonotic pathways. Sporothrix schenckii and S. brasiliensis are the most common etiologic agents in human and animal diseases in Brazil. Objectives The objective of this work is to alert about the emergence of feline sporotrichosis on the Brazilian side of the Southern Triple Border (Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina). Methods From July 2021 to March 2022, biological samples and clinical-epidemiological data were collected from 57 domestic cats with typical sporotrichosis lesions and residents of Iguassu Falls (Foz). The cats were selected through notification of the citizens themselves, health agents of Zoonosis Control Center of Iguassu Falls (CCZ–Foz), veterinarians from private veterinary clinics and hospitals, and the receipt of suspected animals by CCZ–Foz. From the samples, direct mycological examinations and fungal culture were performed and a set of 10 fungal isolates from the microbiological tests were selected for molecular analysis based on calmodulin (CAL) gene sequences. From each collection point, the geographic coordinate was taken using the Google Earth® software and the Quantus Gis software (QGIS) was used to assemble the maps. Results Of the 57 samples collected, 45 were considered positive in the microbiological tests (Fig. 1), and the first 10 isolates were identified as S. brasiliensis. Based on clinical-epidemiological, and geographic data (Fig. 2), the following problems associated with feline sporotrichosis in this region were identified: the presence of sporotrichosis positive cats in high-density regions population of Foz; the epidemic profile of the disease with cases spreading quickly by neighborhoods in the South region of the city to neighborhoods in the North region; the easy access to the street and other homes of infected cats, which facilitates the zoonotic and enzootic transmission cycle of this disease; the free movement of animals positive for backyards and vacant lots where they can defecate and even come to death the that feeds the sapronotic cycle; and the profile most associated with the animal positive being that of an uncastrated male, not vaccinated and with little or no access to veterinary services. Conclusion For being a region of the Triple Frontier, there are many differences in political, administrative, and operational between the Public Health Systems of the three countries, with Paraguay and Argentina, the political-administrative-operational centralization is configured as a great node critical for the development of health actions in an adequate way to the needs at a loco-regional level and, above all, on time for the implementation thereof. With the situational diagnosis provided for this study it is possible to understand the factors that influence the emergence of the disease in Iguassu Falls contributing to the development of programs and specific strategies, focusing on raising the population's awareness of safekeeping practices for your animals; free diagnosis for animals (dogs and cats) suspected of sporotrichosis, and treatment with a free supply of medication for patients animals with a confirmed diagnosis of sporotrichosis.