Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity was analyzed in 42 clinical isolates of Sporothrix schenckii from México (n = 29), Guatemala (n = 4) and Colombia (n = 9). Based on HaeIII restriction digestion profiles, the isolates were classified into eight types. In addition to 24 mtDNA types previously reported in another study, 6 new types were found in this study. Most of the strains belong to type 14 and type 30, the former restricted to Mexico, whereas the latter was distributed in Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia. The new types (25-30) were identified in Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia. Restriction-fragment length polymorphism in mtDNA of S. schenckii revealed high levels of genetic variation attributable to differences in restriction sites as well as in mtDNA size. Based on genetic distances S. schenckii types were clustered into two main groups.