Presence of pathogenic cryptococci on trees situated in two recreational areas in South Africa

Vreulink, Jo-Marie; Khayhan, Kantarawee; Hagen, Ferry; Botes, Angela; Moller, Leandra; Boekhout, Teun; Vismer, H. F.; Botha, Alfred

doi:10.1016/j.funeco.2017.09.005

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…No clinical C. neoformans isolates with the MAT a mating type were recovered but were present in environmental samples, in addition to MATα . The presence of MAT a mating type among C. neoformans is significant because this represents initial reporting of this mating type in mopane trees, although previously reported on other trees at a public park in South Africa [ 25 ]. In addition, the observation of MAT a and MATα mating types in our results is not surprising but the prevalence of diploid hybrids represents unique findings compared to previous environmental investigations of mopane associated CnCg species complexes [ 42 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Determining Potential Link between Environmental and Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii Species Complexes Using Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterisation

Kebabonye,

Jongman,

Loeto

et al. 2023

Mycobiology

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Opportunistic infections due to Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexes continue to rise unabated among HIV/AIDS patients, despite improved antifungal therapies. Here, we collected a total of 20 environmental and 25 presumptive clinical cryptococcal isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 175 patients enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial Ambition 1 Project (Botswana-Harvard Partnership). Identity confirmation of the isolates was done using MALDI-TOF MS and PCR. We describe the diversity of the isolates by PCR fingerprinting and sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technology) of the intergenic spacer region. Mating types of the isolates were determined by amplification of the MAT locus. We report an unusual prevalence of 42.1% of C. neoformans x C. deneoformans hybrids Serotype AD ( n = 16), followed by 39.5% of C. neoformans Serotype A ( n = 15), 5.3% of C. deneoformans , Serotype D ( n = 2), 7.9% of C. gattii ( n = 3), and 5.3% of C. tetragattii (n = 2) in 38 representative isolates that have been characterized. Mating type-specific PCR performed on 38 representative environmental and clinical isolates revealed that 16 (42.1%) were MAT a/ MATα hybrids, 17 (44.7%) were MATα , and five (13.2%) possessed MAT a mating type. We used conventional and NGS platforms to demonstrate a potential link between environmental and clinical isolates and lay a foundation to further describe mating patterns/history in Botswana.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Previous findings reported genetically unique populations of Cryptococcus species that are primarily associated with trees in Southern Africa [ 16 , 25 ]. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of clinical and environmental isolates to demonstrate a potential link between these populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining Potential Link between Environmental and Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii Species Complexes Using Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterisation

Kebabonye,

Jongman,

Loeto

et al. 2023

Mycobiology

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“…In susceptible individuals with immunosuppressive conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), the infection can spread to other body systems, especially the central nervous system [ 7 ]. Global molecular epidemiology studies have reported that C. neoformans sensu lato is the main etiological cryptococcosis agent in patients with HIV/AIDS, while C. gattii sensu lato primarily manifests as infections in immunocompetent individuals [ 8 ]. Globally, it has been reported that approximately 0.22 million cryptococcal meningitis cases occur annually, resulting in 180000 deaths everyyear [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the threat posed by these cells to individuals with HIV/AIDS, we assessed the prevalence of cryptococcal species in bird droppings across the city of Bloemfontein, as importantly, clinical isolates arise from theenvironment [ 14 ]. Notably, in South Africa, only three studies have reported cryptococcal cells from environmental sources [ 8 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first survey of cryptococcal cells in bird droppings across Bloemfontein, South Africa

et al. 2021

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Background and Aim: Cryptococcal yeast cells are spread across different ecosystems through bird movement and are deposited in bird guano. These cells may be inhaled by humans and lead to cryptococcal pneumonia. In individuals with reduced immune T-cell populations, cells may disseminate to the brain and cause the often-deadly cryptococcal meningitis. In this study, we surveyed cryptococcal cells in bird droppings across the city of Bloemfontein, South Africa. Materials and Methods: We aseptically collected 120 bird dropping samples from 15 representative city sites. In the laboratory, samples were assessed with regards to location, weighed, and standardized to a mass of 1 g before suspension in 10 mL phosphate buffer saline. Samples were first screened using Calcofluor-white stain as it is a rapid technique for the detection of fungi via binding to cell wall components such as chitin. After this, positive Calcofluor samples were serologically assayed for the cryptococcal antigen (CrAg). To confirm assay data, CrAg positive samples were then cultured on bird seed agar and resulting colonies were assessed using Indian ink. Results: We determined that 10/15 locations were positive for the CrAg. Pathogenic cells were identified on bird seed agar as brown colonies. When examined using microscopy, brown colony cells exhibited characteristic thick capsules representative of cryptococcal cells. Conclusion: This is the first proximate analysis showing the ecological distribution of cryptococcal cells in Bloemfontein. This is important as associated infections are acquired from the environment. Similarly, given the threat posed by cryptococcal cells to immunocompromised individuals, local authorities must initiate measures curbing the spread of these cells.

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The growth of Cryptococcus gattii MATα and MATa strains is affected by the chemical composition of their woody debris substrate

et al. 2020

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Presence of pathogenic cryptococci on trees situated in two recreational areas in South Africa

Cited by 5 publications

References 91 publications

Determining Potential Link between Environmental and Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii Species Complexes Using Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterisation

Determining Potential Link between Environmental and Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii Species Complexes Using Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterisation

The first survey of cryptococcal cells in bird droppings across Bloemfontein, South Africa

The growth of Cryptococcus gattii MATα and MATa strains is affected by the chemical composition of their woody debris substrate

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