Environmental isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from an endemic region of HIV-associated cryptococcosis in Thailand.
We successfully isolated Cryptococcus neoformans from chicken faeces in suburban areas of Thailand. C. neoformans was isolated from 36/150 houses (24.0%) in the dry season and 6/150 (4.0%) in the rainy season. All environmental isolates were of serotype A. The high isolation rate of 24% from chicken faeces has never been reported previously. Our environmental study could probably explain the high incidence of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV patients in Thailand.
The Second Department of Internal Medicine Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan.
Misuzu
M
Kuroki
Cheseda
C
Phichaichumpon
Akira
A
Yasuoka
Piphat
P
Chiranairadul
Toru
T
Chosa
Petchsri
P
Sirinirund
Taiga
T
Miyazaki
Hiroshi
H
Kakeya
Yasuhito
Y
Higashiyama
Yoshitsugu
Y
Miyazaki
Yutaka
Y
Ishida
Shigeru
S
Kohno
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012621:Seasons