title: [Avian habitats as sources of Cryptococcus neoformans in the city of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil].
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast agent of human and animal cryptococcosis. The variety neoformans is an important cause of mortality in AIDS-patients throughout the world. It has already been isolated worldwide from different environmental sources, including avian habitats. However, in spite of the occurrence of human cases of cryptococcosis, there are no studies on the ecology of this agent in the Brazilian Central-Western region. To study saprophytic sources of C. neoformans in the city of Campo Grande, 20 samples of avian droppings from distinct environments within the city were collected. The samples were suspended in sterile saline and then smeared on niger seed agar medium. Five days later smooth dark-brown colonies were subcultivated for identification by morphophysiologic tests. The variety and serotype was determined. C. neoformans var. neoformans serotype A was isolated from 10 (50%) of the samples collected. Consequently, the saprophytic presence of C. neoformans is related to avian habitats.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil. filiu@zaz.com.br
authors.forename: Wander Fernando de Oliveira
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Filiú
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.forename: Sandra Maura
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Agüena
authors.forename: Valter Oshiro
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Vilela
authors.forename: Regina Célia Lima
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazéra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male