Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes
Abstract Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic systemic mycosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexes and is of increasing global importance. Maintaining continued surveillance of the antifungal susceptibility of environmental C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates is desirabl...
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2024-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43008-024-00153-w |
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| author | Mohamed Taha Yasmine H. Tartor Rana M Abd Elaziz Ibrahim Elsohaby |
| author_facet | Mohamed Taha Yasmine H. Tartor Rana M Abd Elaziz Ibrahim Elsohaby |
| author_sort | Mohamed Taha |
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| description | Abstract Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic systemic mycosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexes and is of increasing global importance. Maintaining continued surveillance of the antifungal susceptibility of environmental C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates is desirable for better managing cryptococcosis by identifying resistant isolates and revealing the emergence of intrinsically resistant species. Relevant research data from Egypt are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to report the genetic diversity of C. neoformans and C. gattii species complexes originating from different environmental sources in Egypt, antifungal susceptibility profiles, antifungal combinations, and correlations of susceptibility with genotypes. A total of 400 environmental samples were collected, 220 from birds and 180 from trees. Cryptococcus spp. were found in 58 (14.5%) of the samples, 44 (75.9%) of the isolates were recovered from birds and 14 (24.1%) from trees. These isolates were genotyped using M13 polymerase chain reaction-fingerprinting and URA5 gene restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Of the 31 C. neoformans isolates, 24 (77.4%), 6 (19.4%) and one (4.4%) belonged to VNI, VNII, and VNIII genotypes, respectively. The 27 C. gattii isolates belonged to VGI (70.4%), VGII (18.5%), and VGIII (11.1%) genotypes. Non-wild type C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates that may have acquired resistance to azoles, amphotericin B (AMB), and terbinafine (TRB) were observed. C. gattii VGIII was less susceptible to fluconazole (FCZ) and itraconazole (ITZ) than VGI and VGII. C. neoformans isolates showed higher minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to FCZ, ITZ, and voriconazole (VRZ) than those of C. gattii VGI and VGII. Significant (P < 0.001) correlations were found between the MICs of VRZ and ITZ (r = 0.64) in both C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates, FCZ and TRB in C. neoformans isolates, and FCZ and TRB (r = 0.52) in C. gattii isolates. There is no significant differences in the MICs of TRB in combination with FCZ (P = 0.064) or in combination with AMB (P = 0.543) and that of TRB alone against C. gattii genotypes. By calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index, the combination of FCZ + AMB was synergistic against all tested genotypes. These findings expand our knowledge of ecological niches, genetic diversity, and resistance traits of C. neoformans and C. gattii genotypes in Egypt. Further investigations into how they are related to clinical isolates in the region are warranted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8bf5271b525840b1a5c033f909f2fe5e |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8bf5271b525840b1a5c033f909f2fe5e2025-02-02T07:33:56ZengBMCIMA Fungus2210-63592024-07-0115111610.1186/s43008-024-00153-wGenetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexesMohamed Taha0Yasmine H. Tartor1Rana M Abd Elaziz2Ibrahim Elsohaby3Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig UniversityCairo International Airport Veterinary Quarantine, General Organization for Veterinary Services, Ministry of AgricultureDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong KongAbstract Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic systemic mycosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexes and is of increasing global importance. Maintaining continued surveillance of the antifungal susceptibility of environmental C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates is desirable for better managing cryptococcosis by identifying resistant isolates and revealing the emergence of intrinsically resistant species. Relevant research data from Egypt are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to report the genetic diversity of C. neoformans and C. gattii species complexes originating from different environmental sources in Egypt, antifungal susceptibility profiles, antifungal combinations, and correlations of susceptibility with genotypes. A total of 400 environmental samples were collected, 220 from birds and 180 from trees. Cryptococcus spp. were found in 58 (14.5%) of the samples, 44 (75.9%) of the isolates were recovered from birds and 14 (24.1%) from trees. These isolates were genotyped using M13 polymerase chain reaction-fingerprinting and URA5 gene restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Of the 31 C. neoformans isolates, 24 (77.4%), 6 (19.4%) and one (4.4%) belonged to VNI, VNII, and VNIII genotypes, respectively. The 27 C. gattii isolates belonged to VGI (70.4%), VGII (18.5%), and VGIII (11.1%) genotypes. Non-wild type C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates that may have acquired resistance to azoles, amphotericin B (AMB), and terbinafine (TRB) were observed. C. gattii VGIII was less susceptible to fluconazole (FCZ) and itraconazole (ITZ) than VGI and VGII. C. neoformans isolates showed higher minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to FCZ, ITZ, and voriconazole (VRZ) than those of C. gattii VGI and VGII. Significant (P < 0.001) correlations were found between the MICs of VRZ and ITZ (r = 0.64) in both C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates, FCZ and TRB in C. neoformans isolates, and FCZ and TRB (r = 0.52) in C. gattii isolates. There is no significant differences in the MICs of TRB in combination with FCZ (P = 0.064) or in combination with AMB (P = 0.543) and that of TRB alone against C. gattii genotypes. By calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index, the combination of FCZ + AMB was synergistic against all tested genotypes. These findings expand our knowledge of ecological niches, genetic diversity, and resistance traits of C. neoformans and C. gattii genotypes in Egypt. Further investigations into how they are related to clinical isolates in the region are warranted.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43008-024-00153-wCryptococcus neoformansCryptococcus gattiiEnvironmental isolatesAntifungal susceptibilityMinimum inhibitory concentrationAntifungal combination |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed Taha Yasmine H. Tartor Rana M Abd Elaziz Ibrahim Elsohaby Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes IMA Fungus Cryptococcus neoformans Cryptococcus gattii Environmental isolates Antifungal susceptibility Minimum inhibitory concentration Antifungal combination |
| title | Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes |
| title_full | Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes |
| title_fullStr | Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes |
| title_short | Genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes |
| title_sort | genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibilities of environmental cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii species complexes |
| topic | Cryptococcus neoformans Cryptococcus gattii Environmental isolates Antifungal susceptibility Minimum inhibitory concentration Antifungal combination |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43008-024-00153-w |
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