Serotipificación de aislamientos clínicos y del medio ambiente de Cryptococcus neoformans en Colombia

Abstract

The variety and serotype of 192 isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated between 1972 and 1992 - 163 of clinical origin and 29 of environmental origin - was determined. In the clinical isolates two varieties of C. neoformans were identified: C. neoformans var. neoformans appeared in 92.6% of the patients and C. neoformans var. gattii in the other 7.4%. C. neoformansvar. neoformans was found in 100% of the environmental isolates. Serotype A was most frequently encountered, being observed in 92% of the clinical isolates and in 100% of the environmental isolates, followed by serotype B (6.8%). Serotype C (0.6%) and D (0.6%) isolates were also identified. C. neoformans var. neoformans was seen in every year during which isolates were recorded but C. neoformans var. gattii was only observed in clinical isolates from 1986 onwards. C. neoformans var. neoformans was isolated throughout the whole year and C. neoformans var. gattii was encountered only in the months of February, April, June, August, September and December. C. neoformans var. neoformans was observed in 109 strains (66.9%) from male patients and in 36 strains (22.1%) from female patients. C. neoformans var. gattii was observed in 5 strains (3%) from men and 6 (3.&%) from women.