Screening of antigenemia and isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii from cloaca and crop of birds in the state of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 28(7):341-344, julho 2008 RESUMO.-[Antigenemia e tentativa de isolamento deCryptococcus neoformans e C. gattii a partir da cloaca e inglúvio de aves no Estado do Paraná.] Cryptococcus neoformans e C. gattii são frequentemente isolados de excretas de aves, entretanto ocorre pouca recuperação desse fungo a partir do trato gastrintestinal. Os objetivos desse estudo foram verificar a existência de C. neoformans e C. gattii no inglúvio e na cloaca de aves de vida livre e cativeiro, avaliando uma possível fonte primária desta levedura nas excretas e determinar a capacidade invasiva do fungo em aves por meio da aglutinação em látex. Para tanto, foram coletadas 172 amostras de cloaca e 77 de inglúvio de pombos-domésticos, Passeriformes e Psittaciformes. Nenhuma amostra se mostrou positiva, sugerindo-se que o fungo não é saprobiótico do aparelho digestório destas aves. Das 82 amostras de soro colhidas a partir de pombos-domésticos e Psittaciformes, somente uma obtida a partir de pombo-doméstico se mostrou positiva (titulação 1:2), demonstrando que Cryptococcus sp. apresenta baixa capacidade invasiva em aves, sendo, portanto, considerado somente um colonizador de excretas ressequidas. Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are associated with dry bird excreta but rarely recovered from birds' digestive tract. The objective of the present study was (1) to verify the existence of C. neoformans and C. gattii in crop and cloaca of wildlife and captivity birds hypothesizing about a possible primary source of this yeast in the excreta, and (2) to determine the fungi's invasive capability in avian species through latex agglutination. For that purpose, 172 cloacal and 77 crop samples of domestic pigeon, Passerine, and Psittacine birds were collected. None of these samples was positive, suggesting that the yeast is not saprobiotic in the digestive tract of these birds. Only one out of 82 serum samples collected from pigeons and Psittacine birds was positive (title 1:2) showing that Cryptococcus sp. probably has a low invasive capability in birds, and is thus considered only a dry excreta colonizer. Screening of antigenemia and isolation of

Environmental isolation, biochemical identification, and antifungal drug susceptibility of Cryptococcus species

“…However, whether pigeons are infected or serve as carriers for C. neoformans is still debatable 18,19 . In 2008, Lugarini et al 20 published a study in which serum samples from Psittacine and Columbiformes species were examined for the presence of C. neoformans polysaccharide antigens. Of the 53 pigeon serum samples collected, only one (1.8%) sample (from C. livia) was positive.…”

Survey of Cryptococcus neoformansin pigeon (Columba livia) excreta in Public Square in Umuarama, Paran, Brazil

“…The multiplication of the fungus in feces and environments with lack of cleaning, together with an increase in temperature, provides the fungus basidiospores, by aerogenous route from the excreta, the contamination of Passeriformes and Psittaciformes (Lugarini et al, 2008), yeast reservoirs, as well as contamination of other environments near pigeon niche (Rosario et al, 2008).…”

Synergic effect of simvastatin in combination with amphotericin B against environmental strains of Cryptococcus neoformans from northeastern Brazil: a prospective experimental study

“…19,20 However, in other regions of Brazil, the prevalence has differed, ranging 25.3% in the southern region to 50% in the central region of this country. 21 The variation in the isolation rates can be related to climatic factors, since high temper-…”