Isolation of cryptococcus neoformans from droppings of exotic birds at Kafr El-Sheikh province

ABSTRACT

100 samples of dropping were collected from exotic birds representing parrot, budgerigar and canaries. Samples were collected unmixed with soil and cultured by direct plating method for the isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcus species were isolated from 22 samples [22%], where Cryptococcus neoformans could be isolated from 7 cases [7%], 4 of which originated from canaries, 2 from parrots and one strain from budgerigars. Other fungi were isolated and identified as C and ida, Rhodotorulla and Trichosporon. C and ida constituted 25% from examined samples, amongst which C and ida albicans could be identified from 9 samples