title: Molecular identity and prevalence of Cryptococcus spp. nasal carriage in asymptomatic feral cats in Italy.
abstract: Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening fungal disease that infects humans and animals worldwide. Inhalation of fungal particles from an environmental source can cause primary infection of the respiratory system. As animals can be considered a sentinel for human diseases, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and molecular identity of Cryptococcus spp. in the nasal cavity of feral cats. Cats from 162 urban and rural feral cat colonies were sampled over 3 years. Of 766 cats from which nasal swabs were obtained, Cryptococcus spp. were recovered from 95 (12.6%), including 37 C. magnus (4.8%), 16 C. albidus (2.0%), 15 C. carnescens (1.9%), 12 C. neoformans (1.6%), as well as C. oeirensis (n = 3), C. victoriae (n = 3), C. albidosimilis (n = 2), Filobasidium globisporum (n = 2), C. adeliensis (n = 1), C. flavescens (n = 1), C. dimnae (n = 1), C. saitoi (n = 1), and C. wieringae (n = 1) with prevalence <1%. Thirteen Cryptococcus species were identified by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer amplicons. Statistical analysis did not identify any predisposing factors that contributed to nasal colonization (eg, sex, age, season, or habitat). Results suggest that asymptomatic feral cats may carry C. neoformans and other Cryptococcus species in their sinonasal cavity. Genotyping of the specific cryptococcal isolates provides a better understanding of the epidemiology of these yeasts.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Str. prov.le per Casamassima Km, 3, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy pdanesi@izsvenezie.it.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Danesi
authors.affiliation: Veterinary regional district service ULSS 20, Local Public Health and Social Authority of Veneto Region, Via di Campo Marzo 20, 37133, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furnari
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granato
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schivo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Str. prov.le per Casamassima Km, 3, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otranto
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Gioia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Str. prov.le per Casamassima Km, 3, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cafarchia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans; asymptomatic cat; nasal cavities; yeasts