Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis caused by fungi of the genus Sporothrix, transmitted mainly by traumatic inoculation, with zoonotic transmission by infected cats in urban areas of Brazil standing out. Its expansion into the Northeast region over the last five years reinforces the relevance of the topic. This study describes the clinical-epidemiological profile of cases treated at a reference center.

This is an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study based on the analysis of 16 cases of sporotrichosis treated at a reference center between 2022 and 2025. Clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic data were collected retrospectively from medical records and tabulated in Microsoft Excel® for descriptive analysis.

Sixteen autochthonous cases of sporotrichosis were analyzed, with 11 female patients (68.7%) and a mean age of 52 years (9–85 years). Ten patients (62.5%) self-identified as mixed-race, and 7 (43.7%) had incomplete primary education. All lived in urban areas of the metropolitan region of São Luís-MA. Fourteen cases (87.5%) began with cutaneous nodules, of which 6 (37.5%) evolved to ulceration. The ulcerated form was observed in 13 patients (81.2%), while 3 (18.8%) maintained non-ulcerated lesions. Multiple lesions were present in 9 cases (56.2%) and single lesions in 7 (43.8%), ranging from 1 to 5 cm; 4 lesions (25%) were in the healing phase. Lymphatic spread lesions were found in 2 cases (12.5%), and atypical ocular involvement in 1 patient (6.2%). The most affected sites were upper limbs in 12 cases (75%), lower limbs in 5 (31.2%) and face/neck in 3 (18.8%). Seven patients (43.7%) reported contact with possibly contaminated cats, and 2 (12.5%) reported scratches as the portal of entry. Itraconazole was used in 15 cases (93.7%) at doses from 100 mg to 400 mg/day; 10 patients (66.7%) used 200 mg/day, adjusted according to clinical course. One patient (6.2%) was switched to terbinafine due to therapeutic failure, and another (6.2%) started treatment with terbinafine. Only one case (6.2%) used topical ketoconazole plus betamethasone as an adjuvant.

Urban sporotrichosis mainly affected mixed-race women, with cutaneous lesions predominantly in the upper limbs. Itraconazole proved effective, and contact with infected cats was a key epidemiological factor, highlighting the importance of prevention and early diagnosis.