Isolation, serodiagnosis and antimycotic susceptibility of cryptococcus neoformans isolated from pigeon droppings

Abstract EN

A total of 250 samples of dried pigeon excreta, were collected from several sites in Basrah province.

The study showed that out of 250 dried pigeon excreta 40 (16%) samples were positive for the presence of Cryptococcus neoformans isolates in 9 of the 15 investigated locations.

In addition; the highest percentage for positive samples were recorded in Alhussein Quarter at 15 (37.5%) and local Basrah market for birds at 14 (35%) out of 40 total positive samples, while the highest percentages of isolation were in the local Basrah market for birds at 14 (36.8%) out of 38 samples, Alhussein Quarter 15 (28.8%) out of 52 samples, Shat-Alarab Center 2 (28.6%) out of 7 samples and Alzubair 2 (28.6%) out of 7 samples respectively.

Seroinvestigation for the serums of 25 pigeon breeders and 25 leukemia patients revealed a presence of antibody titer against the Cryptococcus in six (24%) pigeon breeders and four (16%) leukemia patients serum samples.

In addition it had been noticed that the presence of cryptococcal antigenemia in four (16%) out of 25 leukemia patients serum samples.

By using disc diffusion method for three antifungal drugs, ketoconazole , miconazole and amphotericin B, toward 41 C.

neoformans isolates, Ketoconazole showed a significant growth inhibition capability compared with other two tested antifungal drugs (P< 0.01) while there were no significant differences between the inhibition efficacy of miconazole and the amphotericin B.