Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus Isolated from Turquoise-Fronted Parrots (Amazona aestiva: Psittacidae) Kept in Captivity: A Probable Reservoir Ecological of Fungal Specimen

Abstract

Cryptococcus is an opportunistic yeast that causes life-threatening infections as meningoencephalitis primarily in immunocompromised hosts, generally associated with AIDS. The source of this organism is mainly pigeon excreta; however, other avian species' excreta are implicated as a source of this yeast. The aim of this study was to perform the isolation of yeasts of the Cryptococcus genus from the cloacae of 40 parrots kept in captivity area of the genus Amazona aestiva. These birds were anesthetized, the cloacae washed, and then swabs from the cloaca collected. The yeasts isolated from cloacae birds were studied by phenotypic and genotypic methods. The production of extracellular enzymes as virulence factors (protease and phospholipase) was performed too. From the total of parrots studied, 10 strains of yeasts were isolated. Nine of the strains belonged to the specie Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus and one sample belonged to the specie Cryptococcus laurentti. The extracellular enzymes research demonstrated that 80% of the isolates were phospholipase producers and all of them were protease positives. These results suggest that not just the environment but also the birds of A. aestiva genus may be the carriers of C. albidus. We point out that the strains produced virulence factors. This is the first report of the isolation of C. albidus var. albidus of A. aestiva parrots and to assert that this bird is a special ecological niche of capped yeast.

Yeasts and filamentous fungi in psittacidae and birds of prey droppings in midwest region of Brazil: a potential hazard to human health

“…In contrast to the findings of Nascimento et al (2017), considering the droppings of the same species (Amazona aestiva) housed at the UFMT zoological garden, C. albidus was not isolated, but the presence of yeasts (Pichia anomala, Candida krusei and Trichosporon spp) was observed, together with other genera of filamentous fungi. Pereira (2006) reported the isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans in Aratinga mitrata residing at a zoo.…”

“…in excreta of psittacine birds (Filiú et al, 2002), members of the orders Passeriformes (Marinho et al, 2010;Lugarini et al, 2008), Columbiformes (Cichon et al, 2011), and Accipitriformes (Cafarchia et al, 2006) has been consistently reported in the literature and often associated with the bird's habit of scraping and fragmenting pieces of wood and branches (Filiú et al, 2002). Nascimento et al (2017) recorded the occurrence of yeasts belonging to the Cryptococcus complex (C. albidus var. albidus = C. albidus) in the cloacae of 40 parrots (Amazona aestiva) maintained in a private farm located in the City of Jundiai, São Paulo, Brazil.…”

“…The relevance of avian zoonosis is worth mentioning because these are infections that frequently remain asymptomatic in birds, mistakenly viewed as healthy, making it difficult to determine the correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment, thus increasing the chances of transmission to bird keepers, zoo visitors, and pet owners. Thus, apparently healthy looking birds can act as hosts for pathogenic microorganisms by defecating and contaminating the environment with various yeast genera that show zoonotic potential (Nascimento et al, 2017). Sedgwick et al (1975) and Fowler (1993) stated that with respect to animals in captivity, despite efforts by professionals in maintaining strict sanitary management, the zoological environment remains conducive to the spread of a range of diseases, many of them zoonotic.…”

“…Other researchers, reported the occurrence of one or two fungal infections described in psittacine birds: cockatiel/Nimphicus hollandicus (Vasconcelos et al, 2011;Brilhante et al, 2010), lovebird/Agapornis fischeri (Nouri and Kamyabi, 2010), Australian parakeet/Melopsittacus undulatus (Silva et al, 2014), Turquoise-fronted parrot/Amazona aestiva (Nascimento et al, 2017;Yamamoto et al, 2013;Carrasco et al, 1998), sulphur-crested cockatoo/Cacatua sulphurea sulphurea (Anderson, 1993).…”

Search for Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii Complexes and Related Genera (Filobasidium, Holtermanniella, Naganishia, Papiliotrema, Solicoccozyma, Vishniacozyma) spp. Biotope: Two Years Surveillance of Wild Avian Fauna in Southern France

“…Five others, namely, Cryptococcus ovalis , N. chernovii , H. festucosa , F. oeirense , and F. wieringae , were previously isolated from various infected or asymptomatic mammals, such as cats, dogs, or horses, but have not been isolated from any birds [ 40 , 53 , 54 ]. The fourteen remaining species had already been isolated from bird sources but mostly from pigeon droppings [ 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ] and captive or pet birds [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. In fact, very few wild birds have been described as possible sources for RCFC.…”