title: First report on Cryptococcus neoformans in pigeon excreta from public and residential locations in the metropolitan area of Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
abstract: Cryptococcosis is a severe systemic mycosis caused by two species of Cryptococcus that affect humans and animals: C. neoformans and C. gattii. Cosmopolitan and emergent, the mycosis results from the interaction between a susceptible host and the environment. The occurrence of C. neoformans was evaluated in 122 samples of dried pigeon excreta collected in 49 locations in the City of Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, including public squares (n = 5), churches (n = 4), educational institutions (n = 3), health units (n = 8), open areas covered with asbestos (n = 4), residences (n = 23), factory (n = 1) and a prison (n = 1). Samples collected from July to December of 2010 were seeded on Niger seed agar (NSA). Dark brown colonies were identified by urease test, carbon source assimilation tests and canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue medium. Polymerase chain reaction primer pairs specific for C. neoformans were also used for identification. Cryptococcus neoformans associated to pigeon excreta was isolated from eight (6.6%) samples corresponding to six (12.2%) locations. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from urban areas, predominantly in residences, constituting a risk of acquiring the disease by immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Micologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, CuiabáMT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Doracilde Terumi
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Takahara
authors.forename: Márcia dos Santos
authors.initials: Mdos S
authors.lastname: Lazéra
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trilles
authors.forename: Valéria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.forename: Daphine Ariadne Jesus de
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Mariana Caselli
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Anzai
authors.forename: Diniz Pereira
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Leite Júnior
authors.forename: Claudete Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.forename: Rosane Christine
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction