IDENTIFICATION OF THE PERFECT STATE OF CRYPTOCOCCUS-NEOFORMANS FROM 195 CLINICAL ISOLATES INCLUDING 84 FROM AIDS PATIENTS

Filobasidiella neoformans is the teleomorphic state of Cryptococcus ne oformans and it is a heterothalic. The purpose of this study was to es tablish the proportions of each mating types (a, alpha) from among 195 strains of C. neoformans isolated from clinical material. The culture medium used was sunflower agar. Cultures were incubated at 20-22-degr ees-C for 15 days and observed periodically for one month. Non-reactiv e strains were mated several times with different reactive strains. Un der these conditions 96.8% of the strains were found to be reactors. A mong both varieties of C. neoformans, mating type alpha was found to h ave the highest frequency of 95% in the variety neoformans and 84% in the variety gattii. These results showed a higher reactivity in compar ison with other investigators. This difference could be due to the med ium used or to repeated mating with different reactive tested strains.