Environmental isolation, biochemical identification, and antifungal drug susceptibility of Cryptococcus species

Introduction The incidence of opportunistic fungal infections has increased in recent years and is considered an important public health problem. Among systemic and opportunistic mycoses, cryptococcosis is distinguished by its clinical importance due to the increased risk of infection in individuals infected by human immunodeficiency virus. Methods To determine the occurrence of pathogenic Cryptococcus in pigeon excrement in the City of Araraquara, samples were collected from nine environments, including state and municipal schools, abandoned buildings, parks, and a hospital. The isolates were identified using classical tests, and susceptibility testing for the antifungal drugs (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B) independently was also performed. After collection, the excrement samples were plated on Niger agar and incubated at room temperature. Results A total of 87 bird dropping samples were collected, and 66.6% were positive for the genus Cryptococcus. The following species were identified: Cryptococcus neoformans (17.2%), Cryptococcus gattii (5.2%), Cryptococcus ater (3.5%), Cryptococcus laurentti (1.7%), and Cryptococcus luteolus (1.7%). A total of 70.7% of the isolates were not identified to the species level and are referred to as Cryptococcus spp. throughout the manuscript. Conclusions Although none of the isolates demonstrated resistance to antifungal drugs, the identification of infested areas, the proper control of birds, and the disinfection of these environments are essential for the epidemiological control of cryptococcosis. .

Identificação das espécies de roedores reservatórios de hantavírus no sul e sudeste brasileiro: (Nota Prévia) / Identification of hantavirus rodent reservoirs species in south and southeastern Brazil: (Previous Note)

BACKGROUNS: Hantavirus is a genus belonging to the Bunyaviridae family. Human infection occurs mainly by inhalation of aerosols formed from wild rodent droppings. The objectives of this study were to identify the species of rodent reservoirs of hantavirus that cause the cardiopulmonary syndrome in the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil; to understand the eco-epidemiology of this virus and the wild rodents' systematics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rodents were captured using Sherman traps distributed throughout natural environments and around human settlements in localities were hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome was detected. After species identification, biometric measures were taken of each animal. Samples of blood, liver, kidney, spleen, heart and lung were preserved in liquid nitrogen and sent to the laboratory. Blood samples were tested for IgG antibodies for hantavirus using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Voucher specimens are available at the Instituto Adolfo Lutz collection. RESULTS: A total of 4,069 rodents, belonging to 22 species, were captured. From these rodents, 201 had IgG antibodies for hantavirus. The number of positive specimens per number of captured rodents according to the natural environments studied is the following: a) Mainland: Bolomys lasiurus (130/1187), Oximicterus ruttilans (1/6), Thalpomys lasiotis (0/2), Oligoryzomys stramineus (0/1), Oryzomys nitidus (0/24), Pseudoryzomys simplex (0/14), Calomys tener (22/910), Calomys callosus (2/107); b) Atlantic rainforest: Bolomys sp (1/51), Brucepattersonius soricinus (0/16), Oximicterus quaestor (0/15), Thaptomys nigrita (1/59), Delomys dorsalis (0/1), Delomys sublineatus (0/4) Oligoryzomys delticola (0/5), Oryzomys capito (0/3), Oryzomys ratticeps (0/7), Calomys laucha (0/26); c) Both habitats: Akodon sp (14/910), Oligoryzomys nigripes (28/360), Rattus rattus (0/9), Mus musculus (2/352). Oligoryzomys nigripes was more frequent in the Atlantic rainforest. Bolomys lasiurus showed the highest capture index (44%) and the highest antibody prevalence among mainland species (10.9%). In the Atlantic rainforest, Akodon sp was the most captured species (45,4%) and Oligoryzomys nigripes showed the highest antibody prevalence (7,8%). CONCLUSIONS:Antibody prevalence indicates Bolomys lasiurus as the reservoir of hantavírus in the mainland regions of São Paulo and Minas Gerais and Oligoryzomys nigripes in the Atlantic rainforest of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Santa Catarina. Species belonging to the genus Akodon and Calomys showed lower prevalence, and complementary studies are needed to clarify their role in hantavirus epidemiology.

DELINEAMENTO DO PROBLEMA: Os hantavirus formam um gênero da família Bunyaviridae . A infecção humana ocorre, principalmente, pela inalação de aerossóis formados a partir de excretas de roedores silvestres infectados. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram identificar as espécies de roedores reservatórios de hantavírus causadores de síndrome cardiopulmonar nas regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil; e compreender a ecoepidemiologia desses vírus e a sistemática de roedores silvestres. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Em locais onde ocorreram casos de síndrome cardiopulmonar por hantavírus, foram realizadas capturas de roedores silvestres com auxílio de armadilhas tipo Sherman, distribuídas nos diversos biomas e ambientes domiciliares, peridomiciliares e silvestres. Após identificação sistemática da espécie, medidas biométricas foram tomadas de cada animal. Amostras de sangue, fígado, rim, baço, coração e pulmão foram conservadas em nitrogênio líquido e levadas para o laboratório. O sangue foi testado pela técnica imunoenzimática (ELISA) para detecção de anticorpos IgG para hantavírus. As carcaças dos roedores foram depositadas na coleção do Instituto Adolfo Lutz. RESULTADOS: Foram capturados 4.069 roedores, de 22 espécies. Desses, 201 roedores apresentaram anticorpos IgG para hantavírus. As espécies e os respectivos números de roedores positivos por capturados, de acordo com os biomas estudados foram: a) cerrado: Bolomys lasiurus (130/1187), Oximicterus ruttilans (1/6), Thalpomys lasiotis (0/2), Oligoryzomys stramineus (0/1), Oryzomys nitidus (0/24), Pseudoryzomys simplex (0/14), Calomys tener (22/910), Calomys callosus (2/107), b) Mata Atlântica: Bolomys sp (1/51), Brucepattersonius soricinus (0/16), Oximicterus quaestor (0/15), Thaptomys nigrita (1/59), Delomys dorsalis (0/1), Delomys sublineatus (0/4) Oligoryzomys delticola (0/5), Oryzomys capito (0/3), Oryzomys ratticeps (0/7), Calomys laucha (0/ 26); c) nos dois biomas: Akodon sp (14/910), Oligoryzomys nigripes (28/360), Rattus rattus (0/9), Mus musculus (2/352). Oligoryzomys nigripes foi consideravelmente mais freqüente na mata atlântica. Bolomys lasiurus apresentou maior índice de captura (44%) e de prevalência de anticorpos entre espécies de cerrado (11%), enquanto na mata atlântica, Akodon sp foi a mais capturada (45%) e Oligoryzomys nigripes apresentou maior soropositividade (8%). CONCLUSÕES: Baseando-se na prevalência de anticorpos, Bolomys lasiurus foi identificado como reservatório de hantavírus nas regiões de cerrado de São Paulo e Minas Gerais e Oligoryzomys nigripes nas regiões de mata atlântica de São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná e Santa Catarina. Espécies do gênero Akodon e Calomys mostraram baixas soroprevalências e requerem novos estudos para esclarecer seu papel na epidemiologia do hantavírus.