[Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Sporothrix schenckii]

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of clinical and environmental isolates of Sporothrix schenckii was investigated. Isolates of S. schenckii were classified into 24 mtDNA types (Types 1-24) based on mtDNA RFLP patterns with HaeIII and clustered into two major groups by phylogeny, Group A and Group B. Group A isolates are predominant in South Africa, North America, Central America and South America, while Group B isolates are predominant in Australia, Japan and China. Based on the mtDNA-RFLP patterns with HaeIII, most environmental isolates morphologically identified as S. schenckii were confirmed to be species distinct from S. schenckii and S. schenckii isolates were few, while all of more than 500 clinical isolates were confirmed as S. schenckii. Therefore, RFLP analysis of mtDNA is essential for the identification of environmental, but not clinical isolates of S. schenckii.