title: Geographic distribution of patients affected by Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complexes meningitis, pigeon and tree populations in Southern Brazil.
abstract: Cryptococcal meningitis is mainly caused by members of the C. neoformans/C. gattii species complexes. The ecological niches of Cryptococcus species have extensively been studied, but its epidemiological relationship with meningitis cases is still unknown. In this study, we estimate the relationship between cryptococcal meningitis cases and tree and pigeon populations, the classical niches of members of C. neoformans/C. gattii sensu lato. We analysed the records of every patient whose cerebrospinal fluid culture yielded Cryptococcus spp. during the last 30 years at Clinical Hospital of Curitiba. Data about Curitiba's pigeon and tree distribution were obtained from Curitiba's Secretaries of Zoonosis and Environment archives. We used ArcGis9 software to plot the distribution of the pigeon and tree populations in this city as well as cryptococcal meningitis cases, distinguishing them according to the causal agent in C. neoformans or C. gattii s.l. In total, 489 cryptococcal cultures were documented, with 140 corresponding to patients eligible for this study (134 affected by C. neoformans s.l. and 6 by C. gattii s.l.). The map showed a relationship between C. neoformans s.l. patients and pigeon population. C. gattii s.l. patients were associated with neither tree nor pigeon populations, but lived close to large unbuilt, unforested areas.
authors: Department of Neurology, Clinical Hospital of Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Tallulah
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7826-2452
authors: T
authors: Spina-Tensini
authors: Laboratory of Mycology, Clinical Hospital of Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Marisol Dominguez
authors: MD
authors: Muro
authors: Infectious diseases Ambulatory, Clinical Hospital of Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Flávio
authors: F
authors: Queiroz-Telles
authors: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Strozzi
authors: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Samia Talise
authors: ST
authors: Moraes
authors: Health Sciences Section, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Ricardo Rasmussen
authors: RR
authors: Petterle
authors: Municipal Health Secretary, Curitiba City Hall, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Marcelo
authors: M
authors: Vettorello
authors: Zoonosis Control Centre, Curitiba City Hall, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Staudacher
authors: Geoprocessing Centre - SMMA, Curitiba City Hall, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Luiz Alberto Lopes
authors: LA
authors: Miguez
authors: Department of Neuroinfections, Clinical Hospital of Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.|Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba-PR. Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors: Sérgio Monteiro
authors: SM
authors: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D056285:Cryptococcus gattii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014197:Trees
keywords: 
  CSF
  ; C. gattii species complex; C. neoformans species complex; HIV; georeferencing