Sporotrichosis

An asteroid body composed of a central fungal cell surrounded by Splendore-Hoeppli material. Infection with Sporothrix schenckii provokes a suppurative and/or granulomatous reaction.

 The organism is found in thorny plants, sphagnum moss, or hay and enters via the skin. The infection is usually limited to lymphocutaneous involvement but rarely undergoes hematogenous dissemination to other organs such as the lung.

From the slide collection of the late Dr. Charles Kuhn