First Identification of Autochthonous Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii Isolated from Goats with Predominantly Severe Pulmonary Disease in Spain

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii is associated with Eucalyptus trees growing in various tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The identification of 13 autochthonous strains of C. neoformans var.gattii in Spain is reported. These strains were isolated from lung (10 samples), liver (1 sample), and brain (2 samples) tissue specimens from six goats suffering from predominantly severe pulmonary disease that were autopsied. The animals were members of five different herds of goats grazing in rural areas of the province of Cáceres (Extremadura, Spain). Between 1990 and 1994, there were five outbreaks, in which between 2.5 and 12% of the goats were affected. Although respiratory symptoms (pneumonia) associated with cachexia were the predominant clinical picture in all outbreaks, brain and liver involvement was also documented in three of the five outbreaks. Biotyping was performed by culturing the isolates onl-canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue medium and testing them for the assimilation of d-proline andd-tryptophan. Serotyping by agglutination tests confirmed the characterization of all strains as C. neoformans var.gattii serotype B. This is the first confirmation of the presence of this variety in Spain, with a peculiar ability to produce severe pulmonary and systemic disease in normal goats, particularly in the form of outbreaks of pneumonia in association with cachexia.

Global VGIIa isolates are of comparable virulence to the major fatal Cryptococcus gattii Vancouver Island outbreak genotype

“…The first extensive outbreak of C. gattii infection occurred in healthy human hosts and a variety of animals on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, a temperate climatic region [9,13]. Earlier documented outbreaks occurred in goats in Spain [20] and sheep in Western Australia [21]. These outbreaks have emphasized the importance of understanding the epidemiology, pathogenesis and virulence of the primary pathogen, C. gattii .…”

In vitro susceptibility of Cryptococcus gattii clinical isolates

“…In Spain, this species is uncommon, although several autochthonous C. gattii strains were isolated from goats with pulmonary disease between 1990 and 1994 [4] and from a brain abscess in a Spanish immunocompetent patient in 2003 [5].…”

Antibody action after phagocytosis promotesCryptococcus neoformansandCryptococcus gattiimacrophage exocytosis with biofilm-like microcolony formation

“…In contrast, C. neoformans varieties grubii and neoformans can be isolated from all regions of the world and are commonly found in avian excreta (Casadevall and Perfect, 1998;Taylor et al, 2002;Raso et al, 2004). The overall medical importance of C. gattii is increasing given recent outbreaks of C. gattii-related disease in humans and animals in Vancouver and Spain suggesting that this organism may be expanding its habitat range, possibly as a result of climatic changes (Baro et al, 1998;Hoang et al, 2004).…”