H. Montenegro et Cr. Paula, Environmental isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii and C-neoformans var. neoformans in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, MED MYCOL, 38(5), 2000, pp. 385-390
In order to determine the environmental occurrence of both varieties of Cry
ptococcus neoformans in the city of Sao Paulo, pigeon droppings and vegetab
le material from trees of the genus Eucalyptus were collected at typically
crowded places. A total of 38 sites downtown where large heaps of pigeon dr
oppings could be found were selected for sampling. Pigeon droppings from 10
(26.3%) of these sites were positive for C. neoformans var. neoformans in
at least one sample. Twelve eucalyptus woods located within four municipal
parks were also surveyed; vegetable material from Eucalyptus spp. trees wer
e collected monthly over a 2-year period. C. neoformans var. gattii was rec
overed from a wood in Ibirapuera Park during the same season on two differe
nt occasions (November 1996 and November 1997); this park contained specime
ns of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, a natural habitat of C. n. var. gattii. C.
n. var. neoformans was detected in a wood in Ibirapuera Park and Aclimacao
Park. The results show that both C. n. var, neoformans and C. n, var. gatti
i are present in the urban environment of Sao Paulo city at sites where lar
ge numbers of people normally gather.