Isolation of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from hollows of living trees in the city of Alfenas, MG, Brazil

Reimão, Juliana Quero; Drummond, Elislene Dias; Terceti, Mateus de Souza; Lyon, Juliana Pereira; Franco, Marília Caixeta; Siqueira, Antonio Martins de

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0507.2007.01374.x

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The environmental source of C. gattii is associated with decomposing eucalyptus material, as well as other plant materials in the process of decomposition. Nowadays, this species is being identified on different trees and in different geographical regions of Brazil, and has already been isolated on native and introduced plant specimens, such as false sicklepod ( Senna multijuga ), stinking toe ( Cassia grandis ), Chinese banyan ( Ficus microcarpa ), Cabori ( Miroxilum peruiferum) , Sibipiruna ( Caesalpinia peltophoroides ), and Oiti ( Moquilea tomentosa) , revealing other natural habitats for this species [ 16 , 17 , 19 , 28 , 30 , 47 , 48 ]. While researching trees in the Brazilian Amazon, Fortes et al [ 29 ] reinforced evidence that C. gattii is not associated with one species of tree in particular, but rather to a specific habitat niche formed by the natural decomposition of wood.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptococcus spp isolated from dust microhabitat in Brazilian libraries

Leite

Amadio

Martins

et al. 2012

J Occup Med Toxicol

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BackgroundThe Cryptococcus spp is currently composed of encapsulated yeasts of cosmopolitan distribution, including the etiological agents of cryptococcosis. The fungus are found mainly in substrates of animal and plant origin. Human infection occurs through inhalation of spores present in the environment.MethodsEighty-four swab collections were performed on dust found on books in three libraries in the city of Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The material was seeded in Sabouraud agar and then observed for characteristics compatible with colonies with a creamy to mucous aspect; the material was then isolated in birdseed (Niger) agar and cultivated at a temperature of 37°C for 5 to 7 days. Identification of isolated colonies was performed by microscopic observation in fresh preparations dyed with India ink, additional tests performed on CGB (L-canavanine glycine bromothymol blue), urea broth, and carbohydrate assimilation tests (auxanogram).ResultsOf the 84 samples collected from book dust, 18 (21.4%) were positive for Cryptococcus spp totalizing 41 UFC’s. The most frequently isolated species was C. gattii 15 (36.6%); followed by C. terreus, 12 (29.3%); C. luteolus 4 (9.8%); C. neoformans, and C. uniguttulatus 3 (7.3%), and C. albidus and C. humiculus with 2 (4.6%) of the isolates.ConclusionThe high biodiversity of the yeasts of the Cryptococcus genus, isolated from different environmental sources in urban areas of Brazil suggests the possibility of individuals whose immune systems have been compromised or even healthy individuals coming into sources of fungal propagules on a daily bases throughout their lives. This study demonstrates the acquisition possible of cryptococcosis infection from dust in libraries.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptococcus spp isolated from dust microhabitat in Brazilian libraries

Leite

Amadio

Martins

et al. 2012

J Occup Med Toxicol

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“…A total of 8,590 (81%) strains were isolated from clinical sources and 1,958 (19%) from environmental and veterinary sources (Figure 9). Natural C. neoformans isolates were detected from pigeon and other birds excreta, soil, dust, and contaminated dwellings [94, 98, 198–200], as well as from Eucalyptus tree, almond tree, kassod tree, pink shower tree, Caesalpinia peltophoroides , and Anadenanthera peregrine [90, 99, 102, 201, 202]. Some isolates were also recovered from insects, bull, and sheep [99, 203, 204].…”

Section: Combined Epidemiological Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Molecular Epidemiology ofCryptococcus neoformansandCryptococcus gattii: An Atlas of the Molecular Types

2013

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Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease affecting more than one million people per year worldwide. The main etiological agents of cryptococcosis are the two sibling species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii that present numerous differences in geographical distribution, ecological niches, epidemiology, pathobiology, clinical presentation and molecular characters. Genotyping of the two Cryptococcus species at subspecies level supplies relevant information to understand how this fungus has spread worldwide, the nature of its population structure, and how it evolved to be a deadly pathogen. At present, nine major molecular types have been recognized: VNI, VNII, VNB, VNIII, and VNIV among C. neoformans isolates, and VGI, VGII, VGIII, and VGIV among C. gattii isolates. In this paper all the information available in the literature concerning the isolation of the two Cryptococcus species has been collected and analyzed on the basis of their geographical origin, source of isolation, level of identification, species, and molecular type. A detailed analysis of the geographical distribution of the major molecular types in each continent has been described and represented on thematic maps. This study represents a useful tool to start new epidemiological surveys on the basis of the present knowledge.

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“…C. neoformans is the main source of infections in CM patients with CD4+ T-cell deficiency while C. gattii is a predominant species in the previously healthy ( 12 , 13 ). C. neoformans and C. gattii both can both be found in the vicinity of a variety of trees, and C. neoformans can also be found in soils and bird feces ( 14 ). Although the life-cycle of Cryptococcus is not dependent on an animal host, C. neoformans has the potential to infect a wide range of warm- and cold-blooded species ( 15 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunology of Cryptococcal Infections: Developing a Rational Approach to Patient Therapy

2018

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Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is responsible for upwards of 15% of HIV-related deaths worldwide and is currently the most common cause of non-viral meningitis in the US, affecting both previously healthy and people with immune suppression caused by cancer chemotherapy, transplantation, and biologic therapies. Despite a continued 30–50% attributable mortality, recommended therapeutic strategies have remained largely unchanged since the 1950s. Recent murine models and human studies examining the role of the immune system in both susceptibility to the infection as well as host damage have begun to influence patient care decisions. The Damage Framework Response, originally proposed in 1999, was recently used to discuss dichotomous etiologies of host damage in cryptococcal disease. These include patients suffering microbiological damage with low host immunity (especially those immunosuppressed with HIV) and those having low (live) microbiological burden but high immune-mediated damage (HIV-related immune reconstitution syndrome and non-HIV-related postinfectious inflammatory response syndrome). Cryptococcal disease in previously healthy hosts, albeit rare, has been known for a long time. Immunophenotyping and dendritic cell-T cell signaling studies on cerebral spinal fluid of these rare patients reveal immune capacity for recognition and T-cell activation pathways including increased levels of HLA-DR and CD56. However, despite effective T-cell signals, brain biopsy and autopsy specimens demonstrated an M2 alternative macrophage polarization and poor phagocytosis of fungal cells. These studies expand the paradigm for cryptococcal disease susceptibility to include a prominent role for immune-mediated damage and suggest a need for careful individual consideration of immune activation during therapy of cryptococcal disease in diverse hosts.

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Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from hollows of living trees in the city of Alfenas, MG, Brazil

Cited by 14 publications

References 24 publications

Cryptococcus spp isolated from dust microhabitat in Brazilian libraries

Cryptococcus spp isolated from dust microhabitat in Brazilian libraries

Global Molecular Epidemiology ofCryptococcus neoformansandCryptococcus gattii: An Atlas of the Molecular Types

Immunology of Cryptococcal Infections: Developing a Rational Approach to Patient Therapy

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