Characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from urban environmental sources in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil.
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.
Kobayashi
Cláudia Castelo Branco Artiaga
CC
Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
Souza
Lúcia Kioko Hasimoto e
LK
Fernandes
Orionalda de Fátima Lisboa
Ode F
Brito
Sula Cristina Assis de
SC
Silva
Ana Cláudia
AC
Sousa
Efigênia Dantas de
ED
Silva
Maria do Rosário Rodrigues
Mdo R
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
D000935:Antifungal Agents