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DNA fingerprinting pattern and susceptibility to antifungal drugs in Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii isolates from Barcelona city and rural environmental samples

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Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii (serotype A) was isolated from 12 soil samples mixed with pigeon droppings (16.9%) from 71 soil samples in Barcelona and rural areas of Catalonia. C. neoformans was not isolated from indoor dust and Eucalyptus debris. PCR fingerprinting was performed in 22 representative isolates and all of them corresponded to the VNI pattern. Susceptibility testing for the 22 isolates of C. neoformans var. grubii showed that all of them were susceptible to amphotericin B. Three isolates presented MICs (Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations) ≥ 1 μg/ml to Itraconazole, five MICs  ≥ 1 μg/ml to ketoconazole and four were fluconazole resistant, (MICs  ≥ 64 μg/ml), while three of them were shown to have MICs  ≥ 1 μg/ml to voriconazole. In spite that all isolates presented the same DNA fingerprinting pattern, the susceptibility to antifungals is very variable. The possibility of acquiring cryptococcosis infection with primarily resistant environment strains is feasible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental and Clinical Mycology Research Unit (URMEC), Municipal Institute of Medical Research, IMAS, IMIM, Aiguader 80, E-08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Yolanda Morera-López, Josep Maria Torres-Rodríguez, Teresa Jiménez-Cabello, Teresa Baró-Tomás & Concepción Alía-Aponte

  2. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Josep Maria Torres-Rodríguez, Teresa Baró-Tomás & Concepción Alía-Aponte

  3. Mycology Service, Evandro Chagas Institute of Clinical Research, IPEC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

    Marcia S. Lázera

Authors
  1. Yolanda Morera-López
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  2. Josep Maria Torres-Rodríguez
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  3. Teresa Jiménez-Cabello
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  4. Teresa Baró-Tomás
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  5. Concepción Alía-Aponte
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  6. Marcia S. Lázera
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Correspondence to Josep Maria Torres-Rodríguez.

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Morera-López, Y., Torres-Rodríguez, J.M., Jiménez-Cabello, T. et al. DNA fingerprinting pattern and susceptibility to antifungal drugs in Cryptococcus neoformans variety grubii isolates from Barcelona city and rural environmental samples. Mycopathologia 160, 9–14 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-005-6332-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-005-6332-9

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