Naslov
Types and susceptibility profiles of Cryptococcus neoformans in environmental samples in Croatia and Kosovo
(Types and susceptibility profiles of Cryptococcus neoformans in environmental samples in Croatia and Kosovo)

Autori
Hajdari, Donjeta

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Ocjenski radovi, doktorska disertacija

Fakultet
Medicinski fakultet

Mjesto
Zagreb

Datum
27.07

Godina
2020

Stranica
100

Mentor
Mareković, Ivana

Ključne riječi
Cryptococcus neoformans ; antifungal susceptibility ; environment ; molecular types

Sažetak
The doctoral thesis investigated the epidemiological distribution, antifungal susceptibility and molecular characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans species complex in Croatia and Kosovo. During 2013-2016, 709 samples were collected from trunk hollows and birds’ excreta in the soil beneath the trees in different geographical locations. Four C. neoformans species complex isolates were found in environmental samples of tree hollows collected in two cities, Krk and Rijeka, on Croatian coast, but not in Kosovo. The tested antifungal compounds demonstrated high in vitro activity against environmental C. neoformans species complex isolates. Three C. gattii species complex were isolated in both, Croatia and Kosovo and belonged to wild type for all tested antifungals as well according to ECVs. Three out of four (3/4 ; 75%) of C. neoformans species complex isolates in Croatia belonged to serotype A and all (4/4, 100%) had mating type α. The four C. neoformans species complex isolates from Croatia were classified into two different molecular types, VNI (n = 3) and VNIV (n = 1). This is the first report proving the presence of C. neoformans species complex in the environment of Croatia and determining their susceptibility to antifungals. The results of the study show the potential risk of exposure for inhabitants, especially on the Croatian coast, to molecular types VNI and VNIV, which can be expected in clinical cases of cryptococcosis. Although a limitation of this study is the small number of detected environmental isolates antifungal susceptibility pattern of C. neoformans species complex suggests that no strains with low susceptibility to the most common antifungals should be expected in patients with cryptococcosis.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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