ISOLATION OF CRYPTOCOCCUS-NEOFORMANS VAR NEOFORMANS FROM BIRD DROPPINGS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN MEXICO-CITY

The presence of Cryptococcus neoformans in various natural sources, su ch as bird droppings, fruits and vegetables, was investigated. A total of 711 samples were analyzed; C. neoformans var. neoformans was isola ted from seven out of 74 bird droppings (9.5%), with parrots as one of the most significant sources. Fruits were positive in 9.5% of the 169 samples studied, specially citrus fruits, particularly grapefruit, in which the highest frequency was found. From the 468 vegetable samples , only 20 were positive (4.2%). It is emphasized that five of the posi tive vegetables species are autochthonous to Mexico: avocado (Nectandr a salicifolia), beet (Beta vulgaris var. quinopodiace), chayote (Sechi um edule), stringbean (Cassia sp), and nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica).