An Outbreak of Sporotrichosis in Florida

Sporotrichosis infections occurred in eight workers at two separate pine tree nurseries in northern Florida. In one patient the infection was limited to the site of inoculation, and the others had the localized lymphatic type; all were cured by administration of iodides. This was the first incidence of the disease at either of the nurseries, one having been in operation for four years, the other for eight. Both have used the same procedures in planting, growing, harvesting, and shipping the young trees. The only change in routine that might be related to appearance of the disease was in the source of their supply of sphagnum moss, which is packed around the tree roots before they are shipped. Whether the moss, purchased from a different part of Wisconsin than before, contained the parasitic Sporotrichum schenckii has not yet been determined.