title: Molecular characterization of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans VNII isolates in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are encapsulated yeasts able to cause fatal neurological infections in both human and other mammals. Cryptococcosis is the most common fungal infection of the central nervous system and has a huge burden in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. Bird excreta are considered an environmental reservoir for C. neoformans in urban areas, therefore a study aimed at isolating and characterizing this yeast is important in disease management. In this study, one hundred samples of pigeon droppings were collected in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. C. neoformans was isolated from three samples and initially identified using standard phenotypic and biochemical tests. Molecular analysis revealed that all three isolates belonged to C. neoformans genotype VNII, mating type α and were assigned to the sequence type ST43 by multilocus sequence typing analysis. This study reports, for the first time, the molecular characterization of C. neoformans in Nigeria, where little is still known about the environmental distribution of the genotypes, serotypes and mating types of this important human pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Plateau State University, P.M.B 2012, Bokkos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Nnadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Enweani
authors.affiliation: Massimo Cogliati, Lab. Micologia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: massimo.cogliati@unimi.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cogliati
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ayanbimpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Okolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Sabitu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Criseo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scordino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009549:Nigeria
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans; Environment; Environnement; Mating types; Molecular types; Nigeria