Related Experiment Videos
Experimental murine cryptococcal infection results in contamination of bedding with Cryptococcus neoformans
Joshua D Nosanchuk1, Aron Mednick, Li Shi
1Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
Abstract:
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that survives in diverse environments. To determine whether cages of mice infected with C. neoformans posed an infection risk to animal caregivers, we investigated whether the fungus could be isolated from the bedding or stool of mice infected by intratracheal (i.t.), intravenous (i.v.), or intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes. The bedding of mice infected i.t. was contaminated with C. neoformans. In contrast, no contamination of bedding with C. neoformans was detected in cages of mice infected i.v. or i.p. C. neoformans was not isolated from murine feces. The C. neoformans strain recovered from bedding material was indistinguishable from the infecting strain by biochemical and molecular techniques. This result suggests that precautions may be warranted when disposing bedding from cages that housed mice with pulmonary C. neoformans infection.
Insights
Animal caregivers should take precautions when handling bedding from mice infected with pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans). The fungus was detected in bedding after intratracheal infection, indicating a potential infection risk.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Laboratory Animal Science
Background:
- Cryptococcus neoformans is a significant fungal pathogen with environmental adaptability.
- Understanding transmission routes is crucial for infection control in research settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk of Cryptococcus neoformans transmission to animal caregivers.
- To determine if C. neoformans can be isolated from bedding or feces of infected mice.
Main Methods:
- Mice were infected with C. neoformans via intratracheal (i.t.), intravenous (i.v.), or intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes.
- Bedding and fecal samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of C. neoformans.
- Biochemical and molecular techniques were used to confirm the identity of isolated strains.
Main Results:
- C. neoformans was isolated from the bedding of mice infected via the i.t. route.
- No C. neoformans contamination was found in the bedding of i.v. or i.p. infected mice.
- The fungus was not detected in fecal samples from any infected mice.
Conclusions:
- Pulmonary C. neoformans infection in mice can lead to environmental contamination of cage bedding.
- Standard precautions are recommended when disposing of bedding from mice with pulmonary cryptococcosis.
- The study highlights the importance of considering infection routes in risk assessment for laboratory animal handlers.