Aislamiento de la levadura Cryptococcus neoformas var. neoformans y var. gattii, serotipo C en el departamento del Atlantico, Colombia (Columba livia, Terminalia catappa, Spanish text)

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence and distribution of the yeast C. n. var. neoformans and var. gattii, C in the Atlantic Department, Colombia, S.A. A total of 250 of feces samples from different pigeons (Colomba livia) were collected from 13 areas of the Atlantic Department. Additionally, 34 samples of almond trees (Terminalia catappa) detritus were collected from Barranquilla, Colombia. Serial dilutions (1/10) were performed from initial mixtures using sterile saline with antibiotics and then inoculated on to Niger Seed Agar plates and incubated at 28°C for 7 days. Yeasts were identified by: urease, capsule; phenoloxidase production; carbohydrate assimilation and growth at 37°C. The yeast variety was determined using the canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue medium incubated at 28°C for 5 days. The serotyping of the gattii variety was performed using rabbit monoclonal antibodies. The variety neoformans was isolated from 19.4% of the pigeon droppings collected within the nests. The prevalence of the variety neoformans in Atlantic Department was of 12%; however in the south area of the department was isolated in 26.2%. The gattii variety, serotiype C was recovered from 17.6% of almond trees detritus samples from the city of Barranquilla. It is recomended that a sanitary campaign be implemented to prevent the accumulation of pigeon feces and that the inmunosupressed population be informed of the risk of acquiring pigeon feces and detritus-borne yeast infections.