Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 14, 2026

Biocontained Carcass Composting for Control of Infectious Disease Outbreak in Livestock
14:34

Biocontained Carcass Composting for Control of Infectious Disease Outbreak in Livestock

Published on: May 6, 2010

11.4K

Sporotrichosis outbreak and mouldy 
hay in NSW

Deeksha Dhingra1, David Durrheim, Philippe Porigneaux

  • 1MBBS, MD, MPH, Advanced Trainee Public Health Medicine, Population Health, Hunter New England Health, Wallsend, NSW.

Australian Family Physician
|April 23, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

An outbreak of sporotrichosis, a fungal infection, occurred in New South Wales, linked to contaminated hay. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing this skin condition and preventing complications.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii.
  • The fungus commonly found in soil, moss, and plants can cause zoonotic transmission.
  • Clinical presentation includes superficial skin nodules that ulcerate, with common lymphocutaneous spread.

Observation:

  • A cluster of six sporotrichosis cases was identified in New South Wales (NSW) in early 2013.
  • Investigations linked the outbreak to exposure to mouldy hay from a local farm.
  • General practitioners were alerted to report chronic, non-healing skin lesions.

Findings:

  • A batch of mouldy hay was identified as the likely source of the sporotrichosis outbreak.
  • Diagnosis delays and unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions were noted.
  • Effective treatment with oral antifungals is available.

Implications:

  • Timely detection and management of sporotrichosis significantly reduce patient morbidity.
  • Referral to specialists like dermatologists or infectious disease experts is recommended.
  • Personal protective measures are essential for preventing sporotrichosis infection.

More Related Videos

Application of I TASSER, trRosetta, UCSF Chimera, HADDOCK server, and HEX loria for De Novo and In Silico Design of Proteins05:08

Application of I TASSER, trRosetta, UCSF Chimera, HADDOCK server, and HEX loria for De Novo and In Silico Design of Proteins

Published on: July 8, 2025

1.4K
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR07:20

Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR

Published on: February 4, 2018

18.9K

Related Concept Videos

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
60
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
754