Molecular identification of Sporothrix species in a hyperendemic area in Peru

Abstract

To date, there have been no molecular typing studies to identify the Sporothrix species circulating in Abancay, a hyperendemic area of sporotrichosis in Peru. To identify six clinical isolates of the Sporothrix schenckii complex from Abancay, Peru, we used PCR-sequencing of the calmodulin gene, and a phylogenetic analysis was conducted with these and additional sequences from GenBank. All clinical isolates were identified as S. schenckii (sensu stricto). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the six clinical isolates from Abancay, Peru clustered in a clade along with sequences from Costa Rica, Iran, South Africa, and four other sequences from Peru. These findings reveal the presence of S. schenckii (sensu stricto) in Abancay, Peru.

Keywords: Abancay; Peru; Sporothrix schenckii; Sporotrichosis.