Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship of genomic characte ristics,virulence of S.schenckii and clinical patterns of sporotrichosis. Methods Isolates of S.schenckii were collected from different clinical patterns of sporotrichosis.Genomic DNAs of S.schenckii isolates were amplified by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).Suspensions of different isolates of S.sc henckii were inoculated into BALB/c mice in order to observe their pathogenicity.Histopathology of the skin and viscera of the mice was studied to determine the numbers and distribution of spores. Results The electrophoretic profiles of PCR products differed in the isolates from different clinical patterns of sporotrichosis:1800 bp,850 bp,500 bp,and 180 bp in disseminated sporotrichosis;1 400 bp,800 bp,700bp,and 500 bp in the regional lymphangitic sporotrichosis,2500 bp,1400 bp,1000 bp,and 700 bp in fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis.The earlieronset of illness,wider distribution of lesions and higher mortality rate were observed in the BALB/c mice inoculated with isolates from disseminated sporotrichosis,followed by those from regional lymphangitic sporotrichosis and those from fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis.Histopathologically more spores were found in the miceinoculated by isolates from disseminated sporotrichosis,followed by those from regional lymphangitic sporotrichosis and those from fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis. Conclusions There is a strong correlation among genomic characteristics,virulence of S.schenckii and clinical patterns of sporotrichosis.

Key words: Sporotrichosis, Sporothrix, Animal testing alternatives