What morphological feature helps identify Sporothrix schenckii in tissue?

What morphological feature helps identify Sporothrix schenckii in tissue?

• A. Cigar-shaped budding yeast
• B. Broad-based budding yeast
• C. Spherules with endospores
• D. Pseudohyphae with arthroconidia

Answer: (A)

Sporothrix schenckii is a dimorphic fungus, and in tissue its yeast form appears as small, elongated, cigar-shaped budding yeasts. This slender, cigar-like morphology is distinctive and helps distinguish it from other fungi seen in tissue. For example, broad-based budding yeasts are typical of Blastomyces dermatitidis, large spherules with internal endospores point to Coccidioides species, and other molds may show pseudohyphae with arthroconidia rather than the slender yeast buds seen with Sporothrix. Recognizing the cigar-shaped budding yeast in tissue is the most specific clue for Sporothrix schenckii.

Sporothrix schenckii is a dimorphic fungus, and in tissue its yeast form appears as small, elongated, cigar-shaped budding yeasts. This slender, cigar-like morphology is distinctive and helps distinguish it from other fungi seen in tissue. For example, broad-based budding yeasts are typical of Blastomyces dermatitidis, large spherules with internal endospores point to Coccidioides species, and other molds may show pseudohyphae with arthroconidia rather than the slender yeast buds seen with Sporothrix. Recognizing the cigar-shaped budding yeast in tissue is the most specific clue for Sporothrix schenckii.