Isolation of Cryptococcus species from the external environments of hospital and academic areas

Abstract

Introduction: Fungi of the genus Cryptococcus are cosmopolitan and may be agents of opportunistic mycoses in immunocompromised and sometimes immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcus species are frequently isolated from trees and bird excreta in the environment and infection occurs by inhalation of propagules dispersed in the air. The aim was to investigate Cryptococcus species in bird excreta and tree hollows located in a university hospital area and in an academic area of a university campus.
 Methodology: A total of 40 samples of bird excreta and 41 samples of tree hollows were collected. The identification of the isolates was done by classical methodology and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
 Results: Twenty (62.5%) isolates of Cryptococcus were found in bird excreta and 12 (37.5%) in tree hollows. C. laurentii (currently Papiliotrema laurentii) was the most frequent species in both samples, being found in 5 samples of excreta and in 8 tree hollows. The diversity of species found in excreta (C. laurentii, C. albidus [currently Naganishia albida], C. liquefaciens [currently N. liquefaciens], C. friedmanii [currently N. friedmannii] and others) was higher than in tree hollows (C. laurentii, C. flavescens [currently Papiliotrema flavescens], and other yeasts).
 Conclusion: Many Cryptococcus species were isolated from excreta and tree hollows, and this fact is important for understanding the environmental epidemiology of those emerging pathogens for public health, as a way to implement surveillance actions and control of cryptococcosis.

Comparison of Cryptococcus gattii/neoformans Species Complex to Related Genera (Papiliotrema and Naganishia) Reveal Variances in Virulence Associated Factors and Antifungal Susceptibility

“…Similar to our findings, Brito et al., ( Brito et al., 2019 ) reported the recovery of P . laurentii , N .…”

“…Further typing using DNA sequence of different loci will be needed for accurate species identification. Similar to our findings, Brito et al, (Brito et al, 2019) reported the recovery of P. laurentii, N. albida and N. liquefaciens among other former Cryptococcus spp. from bird excreta, collected outside a Brazilian University hospital, but no C. neoformans strains were found.…”

First report of environmental isolation of Cryptococcus spp. from Boyacá - Colombia

“…C. avencens was isolated from tree hollows in the region of Ricaurte alto, in the municipality of Sáchica and associated with temperate temperatures, the same as reported in the study published by Brito et al (2019) that isolated this species from Mangifera indica. C. acencens has also been isolated from the cerebrospinal uid of a patient with AIDS [12].…”

“…In our study, this specie was isolated from tree debris and leaves from olive trees in the region of Ricaurte Alto and pigeon feces in Tunja city. In comparison, the environmental record had been reported from tree hollows and excreta in the city of Uberlandia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil [59].…”

“…Environmental isolations of the other species belonging to the genus Cryptococcus such as C. liquefaciens, C. avenscens, have been reported in Brazil [59] Colombia, having a spatial location in uenced by the variation of bimodal climatic conditions typical of the tropics, has become, like other countries in the region, a potential area for the spread of this fungus, where species of the C. neoformans complex have been reported in the departments of Cauca, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Huila, Nariño, Norte de Santander and Valle del Cauca. For the C. gattii complex species, the main reports are in the departments of Norte de Santander and Cundinamarca [64].…”