<i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i>in the respiratory tract of squirrels,<i>Callosciurus finlaysonii</i>(Rodentia, Sciuridae)

Iatta, Roberta; Immediato, Davide; Puttilli, Maria Rita; Danesi, Patrizia; Passantino, Giuseppe; Parisi, Antonio; Mallìa, Egidio; Otranto, Domenico; Cafarchia, Claudia

doi:10.1093/mmy/myv045

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…neoformans cultured from the lung and nasal cavity, respectively. 17 We do not possess data concerning the immunocompetence of rodents included in our study, but we assumed that in nature, clinically diseased animals are disabled and therefore more likely to be killed by predators or starvation. Therefore, trapped animals are more likely to be healthy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-time PCR assay for screening Pneumocystis in free-living wild squirrels and river rats in Italy

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We used a real-time PCR (rtPCR) targeting a 150-bp amplicon of the mitochondrial small subunit of ribosomal RNA (mtSSU rRNA) to screen for Pneumocystis DNA in lungs of wild squirrels ( Callosciurus finlaysonii, n = 85) and river rats ( Myocastor coypus, n = 43) in Italy. The rtPCR revealed Pneumocystis DNA in 20 of 85 (24%) squirrels and in 35 of 43 (81%) river rats, and was more sensitive than a nested PCR that targets a portion of the mtSSU rRNA and the mitochondrial large subunit of rRNA (mtLSU rRNA). Phylogenetic analysis based on mtSSU rRNA and mtLSU rRNA sequences showed distinct Pneumocystis sequence types in these rodents. The rtPCR assay should be reliable for screening large populations for this potential pathogen, thereby allowing cost-effective monitoring of the disease in wild animals.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-time PCR assay for screening Pneumocystis in free-living wild squirrels and river rats in Italy

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sixteen clinical isolates were from human patients with hematological disorders (n ϭ 5), cystic fibrosis (n ϭ 6), or lung disease (n ϭ 5) admitted to different wards of Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria, Ospedale Policlinico Consorziale di Bari, between September 2015 and March 2016. Fourteen isolates were from the respiratory tract of squirrels (Callosciurus finlaysonii; Basilicata, Southern Italy) trapped during a campaign to control allochthonous wildlife populations (13). Twelve isolates were from the environment of laying hen farms (14).…”

Section: Isolatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species Distribution and In Vitro Azole Susceptibility of Aspergillus Section Nigri Isolates from Clinical and Environmental Settings

et al. 2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aspergillus section Nigri includes species of interest for animal and human health, although studies on species distribution are limited to human cases. Data on the antifungal susceptibilities and the molecular mechanism of triazole resistance in strains belonging to this section are scant. Forty-two black Aspergillus strains from human patients (16 isolates), animals (14 isolates), and the environment (12 isolates) were molecularly characterized and their in vitro triazole susceptibilities investigated. Aspergillus tubingensis was isolated from humans, animals, and environmental settings, whereas Aspergillus awamori and Aspergillus niger were isolated exclusively from humans. Phylogenetic analyses of ␤-tubulin and calmodulin gene sequences were concordant in differentiating A. tubingensis from A. awamori and A. niger. Voriconazole and posaconazole (PSZ) were the most active triazoles. One A. tubingensis strain was resistant to itraconazole and PSZ and one A. niger strain to PSZ. Sequence analysis of the cyp51A gene revealed different sequence types within a species, and A. tubingensis strains were also phylogenetically distinct from A. awamori/A. niger strains according to the strain origin and susceptibility profile. Genetic analysis of the cyp51A sequences suggests that two nonsynonymous mutations resulting in amino acid substitutions in the CYP51A protein (changes of L to R at position 21 [L21R] and of Q to R at position 228 [Q228R]) might be involved in azole resistance. Though azole resistance in black Aspergillus isolates from animals and rural environments does not represent a threat to public health in Southern Italy, the use of triazoles in the clinical setting needs to better monitored. The cyp51A sequence is useful for the molecular identification of black Aspergillus, and point mutations in protein sequences could be responsible for azole resistance phenomena.

show abstract

“…This could reflect the ability of VNIV isolates to tolerate lower temperature better than VNI and C. gattii VGI isolates as previously reported (Cogliati et al, 2017). Other authors reported the isolation of this yeast in the nostrils of squirrels living in the Appenine area of Calabria (Iatta et al, 2015). All together these data confirm that VNIV isolates are able to survive in the European areas with a sub-continental climate (Cogliati et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Species Complex Isolates on the Slopes of Mount Etna, SICILY, Italy

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study investigated the presence of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complex isolates on olive trees growing in the Eastern part of Sicily (Italy) characterized by the presence of the volcano Etna and the ability of these fungal pathogens to sexually reproduce on medium containing volcanic soil. Samples from 124 olive trees were collected from 14 different sites around Mount Etna. Eighteen trees (14.5%) resulted colonized by C. neoformans VNI-αA isolates, one (0.8%) by VNIV-αD isolates, and two (1.6%) by C. gattii VGI-αB isolates. The ability of environmental and reference strains belonging to VNI, VNIV, and VGI molecular types to sexually reproduce on a medium containing volcanic soil was also tested. VNI and VNIV strains were able to produce filaments and basiodiospores more vigorously than on the control medium, whereas VGI strains were not fertile. In conclusion, the present study identified which C. neoformans and C. gattii species complex genotypes are circulating in Eastern Sicily and confirmed the ecological role of olive trees as environmental reservoir of these pathogens. It also showed that Cryptococcus is able to colonize and sexually reproduce in inhospitable environments such as the slopes of a volcano.

show abstract

Cryptococcus neoformansin the respiratory tract of squirrels,Callosciurus finlaysonii(Rodentia, Sciuridae)

Cited by 15 publications

References 36 publications

Real-time PCR assay for screening Pneumocystis in free-living wild squirrels and river rats in Italy

Real-time PCR assay for screening Pneumocystis in free-living wild squirrels and river rats in Italy

Species Distribution and In Vitro Azole Susceptibility of Aspergillus Section Nigri Isolates from Clinical and Environmental Settings

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Species Complex Isolates on the Slopes of Mount Etna, SICILY, Italy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About