Screening for pathogenic yeasts isolated from pigeon droppings in the Federal District-Pigeons: propagators of pathogenic fungi?

• Main Authors: Caroline Araújo, Lis Shadday, Bruno Moreno Monteiro Gomes, Adriane Torquati, Fabiana Brandão
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Faculdade de Ciências e Educação Sena Aires 2020-11-01
• Series: REVISA
• Subjects: doenças infecciosas; fezes de pombo; cryptococcus sp.; candida spp
• Online Access: http://revistafacesa.senaaires.com.br/index.php/revisa/article/view/655
• ISSN: 2316-848X; 2179-0981

<p><strong>Objective:</strong> To investigate the presence of pathogenic fungi isolated from pigeon stool samples, in places of care for immunocompromised patients in the Federal District. <strong>Method:</strong> The samples were collected in hospitals where care is offered to HIV / AIDS patients and which has a massive presence of pigeons. Yeast colonies were previously selected on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plus chloramphenicol, followed by microscopic analysis of the yeast structures. Yeast colonies suspected of belonging to the genus <em>Candida</em> spp. or <em>Cryptococcus</em> sp., were inoculated in the Chromogenic Agar medium to identify <em>Candida</em> species and in chemically defined Agar medium to induce the virulence phenotypes characteristic of <em>Cryptococcus</em> sp. <strong>Results:</strong> 100% of the analyzed samples showed growth of yeasts of the genus <em>Candida</em> spp. and <em>Rhodotorula</em> sp. In the chromogenic agar medium, 75% were identified in <em>C. krusei</em> samples; <em>C. tropicalis</em> in 50% and <em>C. glabrata</em> in 15%. In 15% of the samples, yeasts of the genus <em>Cryptococcus</em> sp. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Data from this study suggest that pigeon feces may be dispersing pathogenic yeasts and contributing to the incidence of fungal infections in DF.</p>