Molecular characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii from environmental sources and genetic comparison with clinical isolates in Apulia, Italy

Journal Article · Mon Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2018 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2017.09.032· OSTI ID:23110583

Montagna, Maria Teresa ^[1]; De Donno, Antonella ^[2]; Caggiano, Giuseppina ^[1]; Serio, Francesca ^[2]; De Giglio, Osvalda ^[1]; Bagordo, Francesco ^[2]; D’Amicis, R. ^[3]; Lockhart, Shawn R. ^[4]; Cogliati, Massimo ^[3]

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1. Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari (Italy)
2. Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, Lecce (Italy)
3. Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano (Italy)
4. Fungal Reference Laboratory, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA (United States)

Highlights: • Meta-analysis of data recorded during environmental surveys of Cryptococcus spp in Apulia. • Olive trees can be an alternative ecological niche for C. neoformans and C. gattii. • Correlation clinical cases with possible new environmental sources of infection. The present study investigated the environmental distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complex molecular types, mating types and sequence types in Apulia, a region of Southern Italy. A total of 2078 specimens from arboreal and animal sources were analyzed. The percentage of positive samples was similar among both arboreal and animal specimens: 4.2% vs. 5.1% for C. neoformans species complex and 0.6% vs. 1.4% for C. gattii species complex. Molecular typing identified 78 isolates as VNI (76 αA and two aA), one as AD-hybrid αADa, and 16 as VGI aB. VNI isolates presented 10 different sequence types (STs) and VGI isolates two. The most frequent STs among C. neoformans and C. gattii species complex isolates were ST23 (51%) and ST156 (90%), respectively. Comparison with molecular types and STs results obtained from 21 clinical isolates collected in Apulia showed that one C. neoformans VNI clinical isolate shared an identical sequence type of one arboreal isolate (ST61) and that one C. gattii VGI clinical isolate matched with the main ST (ST156) present in the environment. In addition, molecular type VNIV was found only among clinical isolates and was absent in the investigated environmental area. In conclusion, the present study identified which C. neoformans and C. gattii species complex genotypes are circulating in Apulia, defined their ecological niches and revealed the relationship with clinical cases. It represents a basal study for addressing future investigations and public health interventions in the region.

• OSTI ID: 23110583
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Vol. 160; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
DATA ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GENETICS
GENOTYPE
ITALY
MATING
OLIVE TREES
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC OPINION