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The genus Sporothrix contains both species pathogenic to humans and animals as well as environmental fungi. S. humicola, a member of the latter S. pallida clade, has previously been reported only from soil. We have isolated this dimorphic fungus from multiple cutaneous lesions in two endangered marsupials native to Tasmania. Clinical appearance resembled cutaneous sporotrichosis, highlighting the principle pathogenic potential. Identification was based on partial ITS, β-tubulin and calmodulin gene sequencing. Keywords: Sporothrix humicola, Eastern quoll, Dasyurus viverrinus, Dermatomycosis, MALDI-TOF MS

In a breeding and fattening pig farm an increasing number of cases of abortion and generalized mycobacteriosis at slaughter occurred. Pathological findings compatible with mycobacteriosis, acid-fast organisms in tissues, and isolation of mycobacteria from tissue samples including fetuses, lungs and reproductive organs from sows, genital swabs, mesenteric lymph nodes, and from a sperm sample revealed the cause of the disease. Bacterial cultures were identified as Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis using IS901-/ IS1245-specific PCR. Genotyping of selected isolates from animals as well as from their environment by MIRU-VNTR analysis showed that the herd was infected with one single outbreak strain. The same genotype was also isolated from pigs of two other farms which showed comparable symptoms and were in direct contact with the index farm as well as from their environment. Immunological host responses detected by tuberculin skin test and ELISA gave positive results at herd level only. Despite the detection of other potential pathogens mycobacteria were regarded as the causative agent of the reproductive disorders. To our knowledge this is the first report of an epidemic mycobacterial infection in a pig holding associated with reproductive disorders, which could be attributed to one single virulent strain, and the first report of detection of M. avium subsp. hominissuis in pig sperm.