Associated factors and spatial patterns of the epidemic sporotrichosis in a high density human populated area: A cross-sectional study from 2016 to 2018

Abstract An epidemiological characterization of human and feline sporotrichosis was carried out between 2016 and 2018, in a high density-populated area in Brazil. Professionals were trained to identify suspect cats and notify vets to interview the owners and collect swabs of the wounds from these animals. Mycological cultures were performed, and colonies identified as Sporothrix spp. Subsequently, data regarding the outcome from suspect animals were collected. Confirmed cases of human sporotrichosis (56) were also counted and analyzed for spatial distribution. 118 positive animals were observed. The prevalence of feline sporotrichosis was 8.36 ‰ (CI 95%, 5.38 - 9.55 ‰). The odds for being positive in animals that lived only partially at home were 3.02 times greater than for those cats without access to the street (OR 3.02, CI 95% 1,96-10,43). There was no statistically significant association between environmental variables and positive diagnosis, corroborating the hypothesis that direct transmission by infected cats plays a greater role in the occurrence and continuous outbreaks of sporotrichosis in Brazil. Among the positive animals, 61.90% (CI 95% 58.95 - 64.96) died, and they had an odds to die in the next six months 6.30 times greater than negative animals (p