title: Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans from bird droppings, fruits and vegetables in Mexico City.
abstract: The presence of Cryptococcus neoformans in various natural sources, such as bird droppings, fruits and vegetables, was investigated. A total of 711 samples were analyzed; C. neoformans var. neoformans was isolated from seven out of 74 bird droppings (9.5%), with parrots as one of the most significant sources. Fruits were positive in 9.5% of the 169 samples studied, specially citrus fruits, particularly grapefruit, in which the highest frequency was found. From the 468 vegetable samples, only 20 were positive (4.2%). It is emphasized that five of the positive vegetables species are autochthonous to Mexico: avocado (Nectandra salicifolia), beet (Beta vulgaris var. quinopodiace), chayote (Sechium edule), stringbean (Cassia sp), and nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica).
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Martínez
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Castañón-Olivares
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology*; D008800:Mexico; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology*