A Case of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis in a Free-living Toad (Bufo bufo)

Seixas, Fernanda; Martins, María da Luz; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Travassos, Paulo; Miranda, Manuela; Pires, Maria dos Anjos

doi:10.7589/0090-3558-44.2.460

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In both amoeba and macrophages, the capsular polysaccharide appears to function as an intracellular aggressin whereby polysaccharide-filled vacuoles from phagosomal membrane blebbing and accumulate in the cytoplasm (Steenbergen et al, 2001). In addition, C. neoformans can infect nematodes (Mylonakis et al, 2002), insects (Apidianakis et al, 2004; Mylonakis et al, 2005), toads (Seixas et al, 2008) and goats (Chapman et al, 1990). …”

Section: Section C Capsule Functions In C Neoformans the Capsule Asmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chapter 4 The Capsule of the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Zaragoza

Rodrigues

Jesus

et al. 2009

Advances in Applied Microbiology

420

423

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The capsule of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has been studied extensively in recent decades, and a large body of information is now available to the scientific community. Well-known aspects of the capsule include its structure, antigenic properties and its function as a virulence factor. The capsule is composed primarily of two polysaccharides, glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and galactoxylomannan (GalXM), in addition to a smaller proportion of mannoproteins (MP). Most of the studies on the composition of the capsule have focused on GXM, which comprises more than 90% of the capsule's polysaccharide mass. It is GalXM, however, that is of particular scientific interest because of its immunological properties. The molecular structure of these polysaccharides is very complex and has not yet been fully elucidated. Both GXM and GalXM are high molecular mass polymers with the mass of GXM equaling roughly 10 times that of GalXM. Recent findings suggest, however, that the actual Mw might be different to what it has traditionally been thought to be. In addition to their structural roles in the polysaccharide capsule, these molecules have been associated with many deleterious effects on the immune response. Capsular components are therefore considered key virulence determinants in Cryptococcus neoformans, which has motivated their use in vaccines and made them targets for monoclonal antibody treatments. In this review we will provide an update on the current knowledge of the C. neoformans capsule, covering aspects related to its structure, synthesis, and particularly, its role as a virulence factor.

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Section: Section C Capsule Functions In C Neoformans the Capsule Asmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chapter 4 The Capsule of the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Zaragoza

Rodrigues

Jesus

et al. 2009

Advances in Applied Microbiology

420

423

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“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first clinical case report of feline blepharitis due to C neoformans without concurrent naso-ocular signs. In addition, besides an anecdotal abstract about infection in a cat and reports of an infected free-living toad and a goat, 16,20,21 this is the first published clinical case of cryptococcosis in pets in Portugal.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Blepharitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans in a cat from northern Portugal

Pimenta

Alves‐Pimenta

Barros

et al. 2015

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports

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Case summary We report a clinical case of blepharitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans yeasts in a 2-year-old stray cat from northern Portugal (Vila Real) without concurrent naso-ocular signs. Ophthalmological examination revealed mucopurulent discharge from an open wound in the right upper and lower lids. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed a normal anterior segment, and intraocular pressure was within the normal reference interval. No fundoscopic alterations were detected in either eye by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopic examination. Cytological examination of an appositional smear showed numerous polymorphic neutrophils and macrophages, together with spherical yeast cells compatible with Cryptococcus species. Molecular analysis by means of PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism identified C neoformans genotype VNI. The cat was treated with itraconazole, and amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, combined with a commercial ear ointment and an imidacloprid/moxidectin spot-on application for bilateral parasitic otitis caused by Otodectes cynotis. One month after treatment, the clinical signs were completely resolved. Localised cutaneous lesions, as in the present case, probably result from contamination of cat-scratch injuries with viable encapsulated yeasts.Relevance and novel information This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first clinical report of feline blepharitis due to C neoformans without concurrent naso-ocular signs. The current findings, together with those from recent reports of the infection in domestic animals, should alert the veterinary community both in Portugal and in Europe to this underdiagnosed disease.

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“…Noteworthy, C. neoformans was also recently associated with a pulmonary cryptococcosis case observed in a free-living common toad in Northern Portugal. 31 The distribution of the C. neoformans genotypes among the environmental isolates was as follows: 32.1% for VNI, 14.3% for VNIII and 53.6% for VNIV. Isolates presenting the same genotype revealed to harbour slightly different banding profiles using minisatellite (M13) and microsatellite-specific (GACA) 4 primers in previous PCR-fingerprinting analysis (data not shown).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The authors found that 24 of their 100 feral pigeon droppings samples were infected with that pathogenic yeast, suggesting that C. neoformans is widespread in the Portuguese pigeon population. Noteworthy, C. neoformans was also recently associated with a pulmonary cryptococcosis case observed in a free‐living common toad in Northern Portugal …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Genotypic diversity of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans isolates from Northern Portugal

Ferreira

Sampaio

Maduro

et al. 2013

Mycoses

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The Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complex members are the main agents of systemic cryptococcosis. This disease is believed to be acquired from the environment via fungal cell inhalation. Often, isolates recovered from environmental and clinical sources have proven to be genotypically similar. We assessed the occurrence of C. neoformans and C. gattii in environmental substrates collected in a Portuguese region. Twenty-eight isolates were identified as C. neoformans - five from decaying Eucalyptus leaves and 23 from domestic pigeon droppings. The isolates were genotyped using a URA5-RFLP approach. The C. neoformans VNIV (53.6%, n = 15) and VNI (32.1%, n = 9) genotypes were abundantly present among environmental isolates. The hybrid VNIII (14.3%, n = 4) genotype was underrepresented and the VNII was not found. Cryptococcus gattii was also not found although some isolates yielded a positive canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue test.

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A Case of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis in a Free-living Toad (Bufo bufo)

Cited by 9 publications

References 8 publications

Chapter 4 The Capsule of the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Chapter 4 The Capsule of the Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Blepharitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans in a cat from northern Portugal

Genotypic diversity of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans isolates from Northern Portugal

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