Which statement about sporotrichosis is correct?

• A. It is a bacterial infection caused by exposure to rose thorns.
• B. It is transmitted by inhalation leading to primary pulmonary disease.
• C. It is caused by Malassezia and treated with selenium sulfide.
• D. It is caused by Sporothrix schenckii and presents with ulcers and pustules along lymphatic channels.

Answer: (D)

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii, typically acquired through traumatic implantation of plant material, such as rose thorns, into the skin. The classic presentation includes a primary skin lesion at the entry site with nodules and ulcers that ascend along draining lymphatic channels, producing a chain of lesions—this “sporotrichoid” spread is a hallmark feature.

This differs from a bacterial infection caused by plant trauma, which would not be due to Sporothrix schenckii. Inhalation is not the usual route for the primary disease; while pulmonary or disseminated forms can occur in certain settings, the characteristic form is cutaneous with lymphatic spread. Malassezia causes tinea versicolor and is treated with selenium sulfide, not Sporothrix.

So, the statement that correctly identifies the cause and the typical clinical pattern is: the infection is caused by Sporothrix schenckii and presents with ulcers and pustules along lymphatic channels.