Molecular types of Cryptococcus gattii/Cryptococcus neoformans species complex from clinical and environmental sources in Nairobi, Kenya

Mycoses. 2015 Nov;58(11):665-70. doi: 10.1111/myc.12411. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

Abstract

Cryptococcal meningitis infections cause high mortality rates among HIV-infected patients in Sub-Saharan Africa. The high incidences of cryptococcal infections may be attributed to common environmental sources which, if identified, could lead to institution of appropriate control strategies. To determine the genotypes of Cryptococcus gattii/C. neoformans- species complex from Nairobi, Kenya, 123 clinical and environmental isolates were characterised. Typing was done using orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (URA5) gene restriction fragment length polymorphism (URA5-RFLP). The majority of the isolates [105/123; 85.4%] were C. neoformans genotype (AFLPI/VNI) and 1.6% AFLP1A/VNB/VNII, whereas (13%) were C. gattii (AFLP4/VGI). This is the first report on the genotypes of C. gattii/C. neoformans species complex from clinical and environmental sources in Nairobi, Kenya and the isolation of C. gattii genotype AFLP4/VGI from the environment in Kenya.

Keywords: Cryptococcus; Kenya; clinical; environment; molecular types.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryptococcosis / epidemiology*
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
  • Cryptococcus gattii / classification*
  • Cryptococcus gattii / genetics
  • Cryptococcus gattii / isolation & purification*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / classification*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / genetics
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Mycological Typing Techniques
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal