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Multi-locus sequence typing reveals genotypic similarity in Nigerian Cryptococcus neoformans AFLP1/VNI of

Paul E Chidebelu1, Emeka I Nweze1,2, Jacques F Meis3,4

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Journal of Medical Microbiology
|October 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Cryptococcus neoformans AFLP1/VNI (ST32) was detected in Nigerian pigeon droppings and HIV/AIDS patients. All isolates remained susceptible to common antifungal drugs, indicating low resistance prevalence.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Environmental Microbiology

Background:

  • Pigeon droppings are a significant source of Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus causing cryptococcosis in humans and animals.
  • Previous reports from Nigeria identified only the AFLP1B/VNII molecular type of C. neoformans.
  • Limited epidemiological data exists on cryptococcal infections in Nigeria, particularly concerning environmental prevalence and antifungal resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the environmental prevalence of Cryptococcus neoformans in South-eastern Nigeria.
  • To characterize molecular types of C. neoformans isolates from environmental and clinical samples.
  • To assess the antifungal susceptibility profiles of C. neoformans isolates in the region.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 500 pigeon dropping and 300 HIV/AIDS patient blood samples from South-eastern Nigeria.
  • Identified yeasts using MALDI-TOF MS and performed Cryptococcus Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST).
  • Tested antifungal susceptibility against seven agents using CLSI M27-A3 protocol.

Main Results:

  • Cryptococcus neoformans was found in 1.2% of pigeon droppings and 2% of HIV/AIDS patient blood samples.
  • All isolates were identified as serotype A, AFLP1/VNI molecular type, and sequence type (ST)32.
  • All C. neoformans isolates exhibited susceptibility to the tested antifungal agents.

Conclusions:

  • This study reports the first detection of C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI (ST32) in environmental and clinical samples in Nigeria.
  • The findings suggest that antifungal resistance in C. neoformans is currently rare in Nigeria.
  • Continued surveillance is important to monitor the emergence of antifungal resistance.
Keywords:
Cryptococcus neoformansHIV/AIDSantifungal susceptibility testingmulti-locus sequence typingpigeon droppings

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