title: Characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from urban environmental sources in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis as the most frequent clinical presentation in immunocompromised patients, mainly in people infected by HIV. This fungus is an environmental encapsulated yeast, commonly found in soil enriched with avian droppings and plant material. A total of 290 samples of pigeon and the other avian droppings, soil, ornamental trees and vegetable material associated with Eucalyptus trees were collected to study environmental sources of Cryptococcus species in Goiânia, Goiás State. The determination of varieties, serotypes and the susceptibility in vitro to fluconazole, itraconazole and amphotericin B of C. neoformans isolates were performed. C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A) was found in 20.3% (36/177) of pigeon dropping samples and in 14.3% (5/35) of samples of Eucalyptus. None of the environmental isolates of C. neoformans showed in vitro resistance to three antifungal agents. The knowledge of major route for human cryptococcal infection (inhalation of infectious particles from saprophytic sources) and a total of 60 C. neoformans isolates obtained from AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis between October 2001 and April 2002 justify the study of the habitats of these yeasts as probable sources of cryptococcosis in this city.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Castelo Branco Artiaga
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Lúcia Kioko Hasimoto e
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Orionalda de Fátima Lisboa
authors.initials: Ode F
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Sula Cristina Assis de
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Ana Cláudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Efigênia Dantas de
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Maria do Rosário Rodrigues
authors.initials: Mdo R
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D010856:Columbidae; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012703:Serotyping; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents