Molecular typing of clinical and environmental isolates of Cryptococcus gattii species complex from southern California, United States

Abstract

Summary Background Two species complexes (SC) cause the majority of human Cryptococcus infections: Cryptococcus neoformans SC and Cryptococcus gattii SC. Infection is typically thought to be acquired following environmental exposure. In an urban setting, parks and other public spaces are a likely source of contact with C. gattii SC. Objectives The goals of this study were to describe the genetic diversity of C. gattii SC in the California environment, to determine the extent of environmental exposure in publicly accessed areas and to correlate the genotypes of environmental C. gattii SC isolates with those from patients in southern California. Methods Specimens from trees and soil from 13 parks and public areas of seven California counties were examined for C. gattii SC isolates. Isolates were sequence typed and compared to sequence types from human clinical isolates from the same area. Results Multilocus sequence typing identified C. gattii sensu stricto (VGI molecular type) as well as Cryptococcus bacillisporus (VGIII molecular type). Several C. bacillisporus but none of the C. gattii sensu stricto isolates shared sequence types with human clinical isolates from southern California. Conclusions C. gattii SC colonies exist in some California public parks. The presence of identical STs in environmental and human isolates of C. bacillisporus is suggestive of an arboreal origin of human infections. Two new tree species were documented as hosts for C. gattii SC in California, adding to the four species previously identified.

Environmental Status of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Colombia

“…Conversely, the C. gattii complex has been described in temperate regions such as Canada, California, and Oregon [ 58 ]. Thus, in Colombia, this species has been identified in the regions of Norte de Santander [ 25 , 26 ], Cundinamarca [ 59 , 60 ], and Córdoba [ 19 ], and across the globe, including Australia [ 61 ], Africa [ 34 ], India [ 45 , 62 ], Italy [ 55 ], the United States [ 63 ] and southern California [ 64 ], Canada [ 58 ], Spain [ 65 ], and China [ 33 ], among other regions [ 45 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ].…”

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

“…In addition, the main environmental sources of C. gattii are associated to decaying wood from eucalyptus, almond, oak, rubber, olive trees, among others [15], [36][37][38], in the same way, it has been found in other environments such as soil, air and water [39][40][41] In the same way different reports associate the presence of C. gattii with regions with temperate climates and periods with higher humidity; however, it is vital to consider the speci c climatic conditions of the area since the development of the fungus depends on this [42][43][44][45]. C. gattii has been isolated in countries such as Australia [46], Africa [24], India [47], [48], Italy [49], United States [50] Southern California [51], Canada [52], Spain [53], China [23], among other studies [35], [36], [43], [48], [54][55][56][57][58].…”

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

“…Initially, this complex was thought to be exclusively associated with trees, tree hollows, or decaying tree parts of eucalyptuses ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis ) [ 19 , 20 ]; however, C. gattii s.l. strains were subsequently isolated from additional tree species, such as Pinus , Olea, and Ceratonia [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. While originally thought to be strictly plant-borne, C. gattii s.l.…”