Occurrence of <i>Cryptococcus</i> spp. in excreta of pigeons and pet birds

Kielstein, P; Hotzel, Helmut; Schmalreck, A.; Khaschabi, D.; Glawischnig, Walter

doi:10.1046/j.1439-0507.2000.00534.x

Cited by 39 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…albidus and Cr. laurentii have been occasionally reported as potential pathogens for immunocompromised humans and animals (Kielstein et al, 2000). For the most part, our results are in agreement with those of previous studies on the microflora of droppings of different kinds of birds (Cragg & Clayton, 1971;Criseo et al, 1995) or resident microflora in the cloacae of migratory birds (Cafarchia et al, 2006b).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Pathogenic microorganisms carried by migratory birds passing through the territory of the island of Ustica, Sicily (Italy)

et al. 2011

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Several studies have shown that migratory birds play an important role in the ecology, circulation and dissemination of pathogenic organisms. In October 2006, a health status evaluation was performed on a large population of migratory birds passing through the territory of Ustica (Italy), an island located on the migration route of many species of birds to Africa, and various laboratory tests were conducted. In total, 218 faecal swabs and the internal organs of 21 subjects found dead in nets were collected for bacteriological and virological examination, including avian influenza and Newcastle disease. In addition, 19 pooled fresh faecal samples were collected for mycological examination. The bacteriological analysis produced 183 strains belonging to 28 different species of the Enterobacteriaceae family. In particular, Salmonella bongori, Yersinia enterocolitica and Klebsiella pneumonia strains were isolated. Almost all of the isolates were susceptible to sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprime (99.4%), cefotaxime (98.9%), nalidixic acid (96.7%), chloramphenicol (95.6%), and tetracycline (93.4%). Alternatively, many strains were resistant to ampicillin (42.6%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (42.6%), and streptomycin (43.7%). According to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, all of the samples were negative for the M gene of avian influenza virus. Moreover, isolation tests conducted on specific pathogen free eggs were negative for avian influenza and Newcastle disease. Several hyphomycetes and yeasts belonging to different genera were present in the specimens, and Cryptococcus neoformans was observed in a pooled faecal sample. Antibiotic resistance in wildlife can be monitored to evaluate the impact of anthropic pressure. Furthermore, migratory birds are potential reservoirs of pathogenic agents; thus, they can be regarded as sentinel species and used as environmental health indicators.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Pathogenic microorganisms carried by migratory birds passing through the territory of the island of Ustica, Sicily (Italy)

et al. 2011

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“…At the time of the study, the individual test centers applying routine standard laboratory procedures performed the initial species identification, and species confirmation was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). FT-IR has been reported to be a rapid, reliable, and cost-saving tool to identify and differentiate bacteria, dermatophytes, and yeasts (54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62). An IFS 28/B spectrophotometer (Bruker GmbH, Germany) was used for FT-IRbased identification; the resulting spectra were transformed and evaluated using Opus software from Bruker GmbH, as previously described by Tietz et al (58).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic Relationships Matter: Antifungal Susceptibility among Clinically Relevant Yeasts

Schmalreck

Lackner

Becker

et al. 2014

Antimicrob Agents Chemother

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The objective of this study was 2-fold: to evaluate whether phylogenetically closely related yeasts share common antifungal susceptibility profiles (ASPs) and whether these ASPs can be predicted from phylogeny. To address this question, 9,627 yeast strains were collected and tested for their antifungal susceptibility. Isolates were reidentified by considering recent changes in taxonomy and nomenclature. A phylogenetic (PHYLO) code based on the results of multilocus sequence analyses (large-subunit rRNA, small-subunit rRNA, translation elongation factor 1␣, RNA polymerase II subunits 1 and 2) and the classification of the cellular neutral sugar composition of coenzyme Q and 18S ribosomal DNA was created to group related yeasts into PHYLO groups. The ASPs were determined for fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole in each PHYLO group. The majority (95%) of the yeast strains were Ascomycetes. After reclassification, a total of 23 genera and 54 species were identified, resulting in an increase of 64% of genera and a decrease of 5% of species compared with the initial identification. These taxa were assigned to 17 distinct PHYLO groups (Ascomycota, n ‫؍‬ 13; Basidiomycota, n ‫؍‬ 4). ASPs for azoles were similar among members of the same PHYLO group and different between the various PHYLO groups. Yeast phylogeny may be an additional tool to significantly enhance the assessment of MIC values and to predict antifungal susceptibility, thereby more rapidly initiating appropriate patient management.

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“…association with birds and their guanos, including in aviaries where multiple species are housed in close proximity (6,7,12,24,26,42,51,54,67,75). These studies have identified specific avian species as carriers for Cryptococcus, but no reason for this specificity has been determined.…”

Section: Vol 6 2007 C Neoformans Mates On Pigeon Guano 955mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptococcus neoformans Mates on Pigeon Guano: Implications for the Realized Ecological Niche and Globalization

Nielsen¹,

Obaldia²,

2007

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The ecological niche that a species can occupy is determined by its resource requirements and the physical conditions necessary for survival. The niche to which an organism is most highly adapted is the realized niche, whereas the complete range of habitats that an organism can occupy represents the fundamental niche. The growth and development of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii on pigeon guano were examined to determine whether these two species occupy the same or different ecological niches. C. neoformans is a cosmopolitan pathogenic yeast that infects predominantly immunocompromised individuals, exists in two varieties (grubii [serotype A] and neoformans [serotype D]), and is commonly isolated from pigeon guano worldwide. By contrast, C. gattii often infects immunocompetent individuals and is associated with geographically restricted environments, most notably, eucalyptus trees. Pigeon guano supported the growth of both species, and a brown pigment related to melanin, a key virulence factor, was produced. C. neoformans exhibited prolific mating on pigeon guano, whereas C. gattii did not. The observations that C. neoformans completes the life cycle on pigeon guano but that C. gattii does not indicates that pigeon guano could represent the realized ecological niche for C. neoformans. Because C. gattii grows on pigeon guano but cannot sexually reproduce, pigeon guano represents a fundamental but not a realized niche for C. gattii. Based on these studies, we hypothesize that an ancestral Cryptococcus strain gained the ability to sexually reproduce in pigeon guano and then swept the globe.

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Occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in excreta of pigeons and pet birds

Cited by 39 publications

References 27 publications

Pathogenic microorganisms carried by migratory birds passing through the territory of the island of Ustica, Sicily (Italy)

Pathogenic microorganisms carried by migratory birds passing through the territory of the island of Ustica, Sicily (Italy)

Phylogenetic Relationships Matter: Antifungal Susceptibility among Clinically Relevant Yeasts

Cryptococcus neoformans Mates on Pigeon Guano: Implications for the Realized Ecological Niche and Globalization

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