Prevalence of yeast-like fungi and evaluation of several virulence factors from feral pigeons in Seoul, Korea.
OBJECTIVE
Studies of pigeon-borne yeasts have tended to focus on species, such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans, with scant attention to feral pigeons in Korea. We studied the prevalence of yeasts from faecal samples of feral pigeons obtained in various public places in Seoul, Korea, and assessed their potential capacity as human pathogens.


RESULTS
Three hundred and six pigeon faeces samples were collected at city squares and parks in 21 localities in Seoul and Seoul Grand Park and analysed for yeast with conventional methods. Of the 306 samples, 126 (41·2%) were positive for yeast. Seventeen species of yeast were identified. The most frequent species were Candida glabrata (34·1%), Candida famata (12·7%), Cryptococcus albidus (14·3%) and Cryptococcus laurentii (7·9%). The yeast isolates were tested for virulence. Of the 116 isolates (ten isolates missing), 70·7% (n = 82) grew at 37°C. All the Cryptococcus spp. isolates possessed a capsule, 16·4% (n = 19) produced melanin, and 33·6% (n = 39) produced proteinase. Two Ca. glabrata, a Ca. famata and Ca. albicans as well as three C. neoformans, a C. laurentii and Ca. albicans isolates had three virulence factors. Accordingly, 29·3% (n = 34) isolates possessed more than two virulence factors except capsule formation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results of this study indicate that feral pigeons harbour a variety of yeasts and are a reservoir of human pathogenic fungi.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first time about the microflora (fungi) presents in faecal samples collected from a variety of public areas throughout Seoul, Korea.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea  Research Institute of Public Health and Environment, Seoul, Korea.
Y H
YH
Jang
S J
SJ
Lee
J H
JH
Lee
H S
HS
Chae
S H
SH
Kim
N H
NH
Choe
D000818:Animals; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015003:Yeasts / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*
D037521:Virulence Factors