Cat-Borne Fungus Expands from Pets to People Across South America
Vets and clinicians in southeastern Uruguay are tracing a rising pattern of cat wounds and human skin lesions to Sporothrix brasiliensis, a virulent fungus that causes sporotrichosis and can move from environment to tissue. Cats appear to spread the infection through wounds and saliva, making animal-to-human transmission more efficient and signaling regional spread that now includes Argentina, underscoring a growing public health challenge and the need for heightened awareness.