Human cryptococcosis: relationship of environmental and clinical strains of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans from urban and rural areas

Mycopathologia. 2005 Jan;159(1):7-11. doi: 10.1007/s11046-004-9618-4.

Abstract

Forty-five clinical and 55 environmental strains of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans from São Paulo, Brazil, were tested for their susceptibilities to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and flucytosine by the broth microdilution method according to the National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. Electrophoretic karyotypes analysis by counter-clamped homogeneous electrophoresis was used to compare their genetic relatedness. Molecular typing revealed three clinical profiles very similar to two environmental profiles and an identical environmental and clinical profile. The results showed that human cryptococcosis can be acquired from environmental strains, which had similar minimum inhibitory concentration values to clinical strains, for antifungal agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Brazil
  • Columbidae / microbiology
  • Cryptococcosis / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / genetics
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / growth & development*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / metabolism
  • DNA, Fungal / chemistry
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Humans
  • Karyotyping
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Rural Population
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • DNA, Fungal