Identification of Cryptococcus Neoformans by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Cryptococcosis is among the most prevalent life-threateningmycoses and has a worldwide distribution.Cryptococcus neoformans, the etiological agent ofcryptococcosis, has been associated with soil and pigeon DROPpingsfor more than two decades. Recently Eucalyptus tree is also one ofthe source of C. neoformans var gattii . Humans may infected by inhaling infectious agents from theenvironment, which primarily colonize the lung and subsequentlyinvade the central nervous system.The present study was done to investigate the occurrence ofCryptococcus neoformans species in pigeon DROPping andEucalyptus tree samples. Identification of the isolated Cryptococcusneoformans from pigeon DROPpings and Eucalyptus trees were doneby both serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. A total of 100 samples were collected (50) dried and oldpigeon DROPpings as well as (50) Eucalyptus tree samples. Thepigeon samples were obtained collected while Eucalyptus treesamples were taken from 15 flowers, 15 leaves and 20 dust