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Molecular Typing of Environmental Cryptococcus Neoformans Isolated From Pigeon Droppings in Tripoli, Libya
Molecular Typing of Environmental Cryptococcus Neoformans Isolated From Pigeon Droppings in Tripoli, Libya
Back Ground
Cryptococcus neoformans is the principal etiological agent
of cryptococcosis that has a worldwide distribution. The
pathogen occurs as a saprobe in a wide variety of natural
substrates including avian excreta, soil and wood.
The yeast Cryptococcus neoformans has currently been
classified according to its perfect state, Filobasidiella.
Single species has been described, composed by two
varieties and five serotypes: Filobasidiella neoformans
variety neoformans (serotypes A, D, and A/D) and F.
neoformans variety bacillispora (serotypes B and C). The
varieties neoformans (serotypes A, D, A/D) and gattii
(serotypes B and C), which belong to teleomorph F.
neoformans,
have
been
correlated
(Cryptococcus
neoformans). More recently, the variety grubii (serotype A)
and the new specie, C. bacillispora (var gattii), have been
proposed. The yeast has been frequently recovered from
pigeon droppings in many countries of the world but not
Libya. Therefore, the present study was conducted on the
environmental distribution, variety and mating types of C.
neoformans in Libya.
Site Number
NP
Positive %
35
23
10
50
24
48
positive sample %
60%
Species Identification:
Identification of C. neoformans was performed on the
basis of melanin pigment production on sunflower seed
agar, presence of a capsule observed in India ink
preparation, urease production on urea agar medium, and
ability to grow at 37 C. Vitek2 compact system was used
to confirm C. neoformans identification.
Discussion:
This study provides for the first
time information concerning the
ecology and genotypes of C.
neoformans in the Tripoli region
of Libya. In this study, 32 isolates
of Cryptococcus neoformans
were obtained from samples of
pigeon feces of Tripoli, in which
all of them reveal that they were,
belong to molecular type VNI (C.
neoformans var. grubii) and
mating type alpha A.
Conclusion
This study provides for the first
time information concerning the
ecology and genotypes of C.
neoformans in the Tripoli region
of Libya
50%
40%
30%
% of positivity
Recommendation:
20%
10%
0%
0.5
1.5
2.5
3.5
4.5
Site number
Figure Legend
Determination of mating type and molecular type by
multiplex PCR.The pictures show the results obtained for
nine representative isolates from pigeon droppings. H99
strain was included as reference strain VNI aA.