First Isolation, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from the Environment in Croatia
The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> species complex isolates from environmental sources in Croatia and to determine their molecular types and antifungal susceptibility. Swab samples of tree hollows and bird excreta in the soil benea...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/5/4/99 |
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| author | Donjeta Pllana-Hajdari Massimo Cogliati Ljiljana Čičmak Sanja Pleško Emilija Mlinarić-Missoni Ivana Mareković |
| author_facet | Donjeta Pllana-Hajdari Massimo Cogliati Ljiljana Čičmak Sanja Pleško Emilija Mlinarić-Missoni Ivana Mareković |
| author_sort | Donjeta Pllana-Hajdari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> species complex isolates from environmental sources in Croatia and to determine their molecular types and antifungal susceptibility. Swab samples of tree hollows and bird excreta in the soil beneath trees were collected. Samples included 472 (92.73%) samples obtained from tree hollows and 37 (7.27%) samples from bird excreta. Four <i>C. neoformans</i> species complex isolates were recovered from tree hollow swabs along the Mediterranean coast, while there were no isolates recovered from bird excreta or from the continental area. Three isolates were identified as molecular types VNI and one as VNIV. All tested antifungals showed high in vitro activity against the four isolates. This is the first report proving the presence of <i>C. neoformans</i> species complex in the environment of Croatia. The results of the study suggest a major risk of exposure for inhabitants living along the Croatian coast and that both VNI and VNIV molecular types can be expected in clinical cases of cryptococcosis. Susceptibility to antifungals confirmed that no resistance should be expected in patients with cryptococcosis at the present time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:02:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e35b5062b3a43a8ab6aa799f31abe85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:02:08Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e35b5062b3a43a8ab6aa799f31abe852022-12-21T17:25:05ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2019-10-01549910.3390/jof5040099jof5040099First Isolation, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from the Environment in CroatiaDonjeta Pllana-Hajdari0Massimo Cogliati1Ljiljana Čičmak2Sanja Pleško3Emilija Mlinarić-Missoni4Ivana Mareković5Department of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Public Health, 10 000 Prishtina, KosovoLaboratorio di Micologia Medica, Dipartimento Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment for Parasitology and Mycology, Croatian Institute for Public Health, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Microbiology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment for Parasitology and Mycology, Croatian Institute for Public Health, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Microbiology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10 000 Zagreb, CroatiaThe purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> species complex isolates from environmental sources in Croatia and to determine their molecular types and antifungal susceptibility. Swab samples of tree hollows and bird excreta in the soil beneath trees were collected. Samples included 472 (92.73%) samples obtained from tree hollows and 37 (7.27%) samples from bird excreta. Four <i>C. neoformans</i> species complex isolates were recovered from tree hollow swabs along the Mediterranean coast, while there were no isolates recovered from bird excreta or from the continental area. Three isolates were identified as molecular types VNI and one as VNIV. All tested antifungals showed high in vitro activity against the four isolates. This is the first report proving the presence of <i>C. neoformans</i> species complex in the environment of Croatia. The results of the study suggest a major risk of exposure for inhabitants living along the Croatian coast and that both VNI and VNIV molecular types can be expected in clinical cases of cryptococcosis. Susceptibility to antifungals confirmed that no resistance should be expected in patients with cryptococcosis at the present time.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/5/4/99<i>cryptococcus neoformans</i>environmentmolecular typesantifungal susceptibility |
| spellingShingle | Donjeta Pllana-Hajdari Massimo Cogliati Ljiljana Čičmak Sanja Pleško Emilija Mlinarić-Missoni Ivana Mareković First Isolation, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from the Environment in Croatia Journal of Fungi <i>cryptococcus neoformans</i> environment molecular types antifungal susceptibility |
| title | First Isolation, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from the Environment in Croatia |
| title_full | First Isolation, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from the Environment in Croatia |
| title_fullStr | First Isolation, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from the Environment in Croatia |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Isolation, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from the Environment in Croatia |
| title_short | First Isolation, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> from the Environment in Croatia |
| title_sort | first isolation antifungal susceptibility and molecular characterization of i cryptococcus neoformans i from the environment in croatia |
| topic | <i>cryptococcus neoformans</i> environment molecular types antifungal susceptibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/5/4/99 |
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