Isolation of<i>Cryptococcus gattii</i>molecular type VGIII, from<i>Corymbia ficifolia</i>detritus in Colombia

Escandón, Patricia; Sánchez, A.; Firacative, Carolina; Castañeda, Elizabeth

doi:10.3109/13693780903420633

Cited by 26 publications

(39 citation statements)

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“…Determination of the ecological niches of genotypes of both species is important. To this end, previous reports have demonstrated the presence of these species associated with eucalyptus, fi cus, and almond trees and with pigeon droppings in several regions throughout Colombia (15) (16) (17) . Therefore, studies of the specifi c distributions of these etiological agents within Atlántico, Colombia are necessary, particularly considering the variety of trees that belong to the local fl ora, including Pink trumpet and Quickstick trees.…”

Section: ) (2) (3)mentioning

confidence: 92%

Cryptococcosis in Atlántico, Colombia: an approximation of the prevalence of this mycosis and the distribution of the etiological agent in the environment

Noguera

Escandón

Castañeda

2015

Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.

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Introduction:Cryptococcosis is an invasive disease acquired by inhalation of infectious propagules from the environment. Currently, compulsory notifi cation of the spread of this disease is not required in Colombia. However, reporting of human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV)/acquired immune defi ciency syndrome cases to the National Surveillance System has suggested that there is a growing population at risk of contracting cryptococcosis. Few studies have described the occurrence of cryptococcosis in Colombia. Therefore, in this study, we examined the pathology of this disease in Atlántico, Colombia and determined the distributions of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in the environment. Methods: Clinical samples/isolates were gathered from cases of cryptococcosis previously diagnosed at health institutions in Atlántico, and surveys were completed by clinicians. The environmental study considered 32 sampling points and three tree species, i.e., Quickstick (Gliricidia sepium), Almond (Terminalia catappa), and Pink trumpet (Tabebuia rosea). Environmental and clinical samples/ isolates were analyzed for phenotypic and genotypic confi rmation. Results: From 1997-2014, 41 cases of cryptococcosis were reported. The mean patient age was 40.5 years (range: 18-63 years); 76% were men, and 78% were HIV positive. Isolation was possible in 38 cases (C. neoformans, molecular type VNI in 37 cases and C. gattii, molecular type VGI in one case). In 2012-2014, 2,068 environmental samples were analyzed with a positivity of 0.4% (C. neoformans, molecular type VNI) in Almond and Pink trumpet trees. Conclusions: Cryptococcus neoformans, molecular type VNI had a higher prevalence than C. gattii and was associated with human exposure and the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis in this geographical region.

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Section: ) (2) (3)mentioning

confidence: 92%

Cryptococcosis in Atlántico, Colombia: an approximation of the prevalence of this mycosis and the distribution of the etiological agent in the environment

Noguera

Escandón

Castañeda

2015

Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.

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“…Despite the high preponderance of infections caused by C. gattii VGIII in the HIV/AIDS population of California and the Southwestern USA, only one environmental VGIII isolate (WM161) has ever been recovered from California [23], [37], [44], [52]. On the other hand, in Colombia and Argentina VGIII isolates have been isolated from the environment, yet clinical prevalence appears low in those localities [47], [53]–[55].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptococcus gattii VGIII Isolates Causing Infections in HIV/AIDS Patients in Southern California: Identification of the Local Environmental Source as Arboreal

et al. 2014

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Ongoing Cryptococcus gattii outbreaks in the Western United States and Canada illustrate the impact of environmental reservoirs and both clonal and recombining propagation in driving emergence and expansion of microbial pathogens. C. gattii comprises four distinct molecular types: VGI, VGII, VGIII, and VGIV, with no evidence of nuclear genetic exchange, indicating these represent distinct species. C. gattii VGII isolates are causing the Pacific Northwest outbreak, whereas VGIII isolates frequently infect HIV/AIDS patients in Southern California. VGI, VGII, and VGIII have been isolated from patients and animals in the Western US, suggesting these molecular types occur in the environment. However, only two environmental isolates of C. gattii have ever been reported from California: CBS7750 (VGII) and WM161 (VGIII). The incongruence of frequent clinical presence and uncommon environmental isolation suggests an unknown C. gattii reservoir in California. Here we report frequent isolation of C. gattii VGIII MATα and MAT a isolates and infrequent isolation of VGI MATα from environmental sources in Southern California. VGIII isolates were obtained from soil debris associated with tree species not previously reported as hosts from sites near residences of infected patients. These isolates are fertile under laboratory conditions, produce abundant spores, and are part of both locally and more distantly recombining populations. MLST and whole genome sequence analysis provide compelling evidence that these environmental isolates are the source of human infections. Isolates displayed wide-ranging virulence in macrophage and animal models. When clinical and environmental isolates with indistinguishable MLST profiles were compared, environmental isolates were less virulent. Taken together, our studies reveal an environmental source and risk of C. gattii to HIV/AIDS patients with implications for the >1,000,000 cryptococcal infections occurring annually for which the causative isolate is rarely assigned species status. Thus, the C. gattii global health burden could be more substantial than currently appreciated.

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“…Samples were processed using conventional techniques, inoculating the supernatant on Guizottia abyssinica agar plates supplemented with Byphenil and antibiotics. Plates were observed daily during one month, and suspected brown colonies were streaked onto Sabouraud glucose agar plates for further phenotypic characterization and species determination [21]. Additionally, one veterinary case was included, from a Canis lupus familiaris.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Fungus among Us: Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Ecological Modeling for Colombia

Mak

Vélez

Castañeda

et al. 2015

JoF

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The environmental isolation of Cryptococcus spp. is typically a difficult undertaking. Collecting samples in the field is costly in terms of travel, personnel time and materials. Furthermore, the recovery rate of Cryptococcus spp. may be very low, thereby requiring a large number of samples to be taken without any guarantee of success. Ecological niche modeling is a tool that has traditionally been used to forecast the distribution of plant and animal of species for biodiversity and conservation purposes. Here, we use it in a public health application to produce risk area maps for cryptococcal disease in Colombia. The Genetic Algorithm for Ruleset Production (GARP) was used to create models for Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) and Cryptococcus gattii (C. gattii), based on environmental sampling and clinical records data recorded since 1987. These maps could be used to focus public health messaging related to cryptococcal disease, and it enables us to characterize the ecological niche for Cryptococcus in Colombia. We found that the ecological niche for C. gattii in Colombia is quite diverse, establishing itself in sub-tropical and temperate ecoregions within the country. This suggests that C. gattii is highly adaptive to different ecological conditions in Colombia and different regions of the world.

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Isolation ofCryptococcus gattiimolecular type VGIII, fromCorymbia ficifoliadetritus in Colombia

Cited by 26 publications

References 27 publications

Cryptococcosis in Atlántico, Colombia: an approximation of the prevalence of this mycosis and the distribution of the etiological agent in the environment

Cryptococcosis in Atlántico, Colombia: an approximation of the prevalence of this mycosis and the distribution of the etiological agent in the environment

Cryptococcus gattii VGIII Isolates Causing Infections in HIV/AIDS Patients in Southern California: Identification of the Local Environmental Source as Arboreal

The Fungus among Us: Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Ecological Modeling for Colombia

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