Fungus
Sporothrix schenckii
Rose-gardener dimorphic fungus, cigar-shaped yeast
spo-ROTH-riks shenk-EE-eye
High-yield clue
Rose-gardener's disease: a thorn prick that produces nodules ascending along a lymphatic chain is the core study clue.
Overview
A thermally dimorphic fungus of the Sporothrix complex that lives on plant material and soil and causes subcutaneous 'sporotrichosis' after traumatic inoculation. It is the classic teaching example of a wound-implantation fungal infection.
Classification
- Thermally dimorphic fungus
- Mold at 25C, yeast at 37C
- Cigar-shaped/oval budding yeast in tissue
- Ascomycota
- Sporothrix schenckii complex
Lab & identification clues
- Cigar-shaped or oval budding yeast in tissue vocabulary
- Mold form shows rosette/sleeve conidia on delicate conidiophores
- Asteroid body vocabulary in tissue
- Dimorphism demonstrated by temperature shift
Associations
- Lymphocutaneous nodules along lymphatic channels
- Traumatic inoculation from sphagnum moss, hay, and rose thorns
- Gardeners, florists, and landscapers as at-risk vocabulary
- Zoonotic cat-associated transmission in some regions
Commonly confused with
- Nocardia species (lymphocutaneous nodular pattern)
- Leishmania (nodular skin lesions)
Frequently asked questions
What is Sporothrix schenckii?
A thermally dimorphic fungus of the Sporothrix complex that lives on plant material and soil and causes subcutaneous 'sporotrichosis' after traumatic inoculation. It is the classic teaching example of a wound-implantation fungal infection.
What are the lab clues for Sporothrix schenckii?
Lab clues for Sporothrix schenckii include Cigar-shaped or oval budding yeast in tissue vocabulary, Mold form shows rosette/sleeve conidia on delicate conidiophores, Asteroid body vocabulary in tissue, and Dimorphism demonstrated by temperature shift.
What is Sporothrix schenckii commonly confused with?
Sporothrix schenckii is commonly confused with Nocardia species (lymphocutaneous nodular pattern) and Leishmania (nodular skin lesions).
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.