title: Isolation of Cryptococcus gattii from Oregon soil and tree bark, 2010-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Oregon, human and animal infections by C. gattii were first identified in 2004. Cryptococcus gattii is considered to be an emerging non-zoonotic infection affecting animals and humans in Oregon. We report a longitudinal environmental isolation of C. gattii after an Oregon dog was diagnosed with the disease in 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cryptococcus gattii was isolated twice from the same location with a span of one year between isolation dates. Cryptococcus gattii molecular types VGIIa and VGI were isolated in 2010 from soil and tree bark near the home of a 9-month-old dog which three months previously had an infection caused by C. gattii genotype VGIIa. The environment featured heavy growth of Douglas Fir trees. In 2011, a second set of soil and tree bark samples was collected in the same area and C. gattii VGIIa was again identified from the environment, along with genotypes VGIIb and VGIIc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of animal surveillance data to identify environmental niches of C. gattii should be considered to expand the understanding of this emerging pathogen. Understanding the ecology and how the environment and other factors might modify the existing niches is important for assessing risk and for designing measures to protect human and animal health.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, 800 NE Oregon St., #772, Portland, OR, 97232, USA. emilio.e.debess@state.or.us.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: DeBess
authors.affiliation: Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30330, USA. shawn.lockhart@cdc.hhs.gov.
authors.forename: Shawn R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.affiliation: Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30330, USA. naureen.iqbal@cdc.hhs.gov.
authors.forename: Naureen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, 800 NE Oregon St., #772, Portland, OR, 97232, USA. paul.r.cieslak@state.or.us.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cieslak
mesh_terms: D056285:Cryptococcus gattii / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005838:Genotype; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009922:Oregon; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000382:microbiology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology