[Ecological and epidemiological relationships between Sporothrix schenckii, a fungus pathogenic for man and the Ceratocystis genus].

Sporothrix schenckii is a pathogenic fungus for man and animal. Its perfect form is not yet known. Many studies have been made to compare this fungus to ascomycetes belonging to the genus Ceratocystis. This paper summarizes some important data about the ecology and the epidemiology of the fungal complex Sporothrix-Ceratocystis. Previous results obtained by several groups of workers are strongly in favor of a relationship between the two genera. The epidemiological studies carried out in different areas have shown that Sporothrix schenckii and Ceratocystis stenoceras are frequently isolated from the same fragments of plants such as pine or eucalyptus. According to the time and areas, it appears that there is or there is not a relation between the presence of the fungus on the plants or in the soil and the disease. The former case is well illustrated by the epidemic of the Transvaal between 1940 and 1944. Sporothrix schenckii has been found to be present either in endemic areas like Guatemala (around the Ayarza Lake) or in Alsace, or in Corse where no case has been reported for a long time. In France, except for the curious epidemic observed between the years 1903 and 1912, no or very rare cases have been observed although Sporothrix schenckii is abundant in the soil and injuries with contaminated materials are probably extremely frequent. The presence or even the abundance of the fungus in nature is not enough to explain the development of the disease. Some not well known factors are necessary. So as for all disease, the immunological reaction of the host is important and the defects of these mechanisms must be suspected.