Isolation and molecular characterization of Cryptococcus species isolated from pigeon nests and Eucalyptus trees

Background and Purpose: Cryptococcus species are pathogenic and non-pathogenic basidiomycete yeasts that are found widely in the environment. Based on phenotypic methods, this genus has many species; however, its taxonomy is presently being re- evaluated by modern techniques. The Cryptococcus species complex includes two sibling taxa of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. We aimed to investigate the possible distribution of Cryptococcus species in pigeon nests and Eucalyptus trees in Ilam, Iran, using molecular techniques. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and seventy-four specimens were collected from pigeon nests and Eucalyptus trees during ۲۰۱۶-۲۰۱۷. All the specimens were sub- cultured on Sabouraud Glucose Agar with chloramphenicol and bird seed agar. For molecular identification, the ITS۱-۵.۸S-ITS۲ rDNA region was amplified using the first and fourth internal transcribed spacer (ITS۱ and ITS۴, respectively) primers. The purified products were applied for cycle sequencing reactions in forward direction with ITS۱ primer. The obtained results were analyzed with Chromas ۲.۳. Results: Thirty-three out of ۱۸۶ cultures (۱۷.۷%) and ۱۱ out of ۸۸ cultures (۱۲.۵%) were positive among pigeon nest and Eucalyptus tree specimens, respectively. Cryptococcus albidus (۱۷.۲%), C. albidus var. kuetzingii (۳.۴%), C. adeliensis (۳.۴%), C. uzbekistanensis (۳.۴%), and C. neoformans var. grubii (۳.۴%) were isolated from pigeon nests, and Cryptococcus adeliensis (۲۵%) was the only Cryptococcus species isolated from Eucalyptus trees. Conclusion: The presence of pigeons and Eucalyptus trees in the vicinity of some particular places such as rest homes and hospitals should be considered as a risk factor for the immunocompromised population.