title: [Occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans in pigeon excrement in the city of Pelotas, State of Rio Grande do Sul].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast and is the etiological agent for human and animal cryptococcosis. It is found in sources within the environment, including pigeon excrement, and is an important cause of mortality among immunocompromised individuals worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy different environments in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, were surveyed for the purpose of investigating Cryptococcus neoformans occurrences in pigeon excreta. The environments included buildings, public squares and outdoor locations in the city. After collection, chloramphenicol saline solution was added to the excreta, which were then homogenized and seeded onto Sabouraud agar with chloramphenicol and onto Niger agar, and incubated at 32 degrees C. Identification was performed by direct examination and by means of the phenoloxidase and urease tests, carbohydrate assimilation and culturing in CGB medium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the sites investigated (n = 70), 26 (37.1%) of them contained pigeon excreta. These included historical buildings (n = 8), a church tower (n = 1), rice mills and warehouses (n = 7), a public square (n = 1) and outdoor locations (n = 9). Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from 26.9% (n = 7/26) of these locations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study draws attention to isolation of this fungus in urban areas that present large accumulations of pigeon excrement. This represents a risk to public health, especially for immunocompromised individuals.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS. renataosorio@ig.com.br
authors.forename: Renata Osório de
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Patrícia da Silva
authors.initials: Pda S
authors.lastname: Nascente
authors.forename: Ana Raquel Mano
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Meinerz
authors.forename: Marlete Brum
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Cleff
authors.forename: Tatiana de Avila
authors.initials: Tde A
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: Erica da Silva
authors.initials: Eda S
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Márcia de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mde O
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.forename: Mário Carlos Araújo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Meireles
authors.forename: João Roberto Braga de
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D014505:Urban Population