Cativeiro de aves como fonte de Cryptococcus neoformans na cidade de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Abstract

Resumo Cryptococcus neoformans é a levedura capsulada causadora de criptococose em humanos e animais. A variedade neoformans, encontrada em diversas fontes ambientais, inclusive habitats de aves, é importante causa de mortalidade em indivíduos com AIDS em todo o Mundo. Contudo, ainda não há estudos sobre a sua ecologia na região Centro Oeste brasileira, onde há registro da ocorrência de casos humanos da micose. Para estudar fontes saprofíticas de C. neoformans, na cidade de Campo Grande, foram coletadas 20 amostras de excretas de aves em distintos ambientes. Suspensão das amostras em salina estéril foram semeadas em placas com meio ágar níger. Após 5 dias, colônias mucóides marrom-escuro foram subcultivadas para identificação através de provas morfofisiológicas, determinação da variedade e sorotipagem. C. neoformans var. neoformans sorotipo A foi isolado de 10 (50%) das amostras, comprovando a ocorrência saprofítica de C. neoformans na cidade de Campo Grande, relacionada a habitat de aves em cativeiro. Palavras-chaves: Cryptococcus neoformans. Aves cativas. Fontes saprofíticas. Criptococose.Abstract Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast agent of human and animal cryptococcosis. The variety neoformans is an important cause of mortality in AIDS-patients throughout the world. It has already been isolated worldwide from different environmental sources, including avian habitats. However, in spite of the occurrence of human cases of cryptococcosis, there are no studies on the ecology of this agent in the Brazilian Central-Western region. To study saprophytic sources of C. neoformans in the city of Campo Grande, 20 samples of avian droppings from distinct environments within the city were collected. The samples were suspended in sterile saline and then smeared on niger seed agar medium. Five days later smooth dark-brown colonies were subcultivated for identification by morphophysiologic tests. The variety and serotype was determined. C. neoformans var. neoformans serotype A was isolated from 10 (50%) of the samples collected. Consequently, the saprophytic presence of C. neoformans is related to avian habitats.

Cryptococcosis: a review of the brazilian experience for the disease

“…Occurrence of subclinical, asymptomatic forms of the disease is unknown and studies, such as cellular immunity surveys using intradermic tests with the yeast antigen in patients without clinical disease are rare, and therefore the extent of the subclinical form has not been properly evaluated 41,48 . C. neoformans' habitat in the environment is on the ground, in decomposed vegetables, bird and bat feces which are found both in urban and rural areas of Brazil 3,5,7,27,47,50,55,58,59,66,67,75,89,90 . Studies of LAZERA et al 43,44,45,46 gave new dimensions to the ecology of the cryptococcosis agent in Brazil demonstrating that yeast is associated not only to Eucalyptus sp gender, but also to other species of trees.…”

Are all psittacine birds carriers of Cryptococcus neoformans?

“…Besides the domestic environments, commercial stores that sell birds are prone to harbour C. neoformans due the high frequency of the conditions described above. For instance, in the city of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, a study of bird droppings identified C. neoformans serotype A in cages of budgerigars in a commercial store (Filiú et al 2002). The original and natural budgerigar habitats are not necessarily positive for C. neoformans.…”

Cryptococcus spp. em excretas de Columba livia (pombos domésticos) provenientes de um hospital universitário no Sul do Brasil

“…As amostras de excretas de C. livia foram coletadas semanalmente de locais como os parapeitos de janelas, as superfícies de ar condicionado e dos pátios internos na área acadêmica e hospitalar do Campus Saúde. As coletas foram realizadas das excretas secas, conforme descritos por diversos autores (Filiú et al, 2002;Reolon et al, 2004;Baroni et al, 2006;Contin et al, 2011), acondicionadas em frascos estéreis, transportadas ao Laboratório de Micologia da Faculdade de Medicina (FAMED-FURG) e processadas imediatamente.…”