Studies on Cryptococcus Neoformans

The present investigation was undertaken to study the prevalence of Cryptococcus neoformans among Eucalyptus tree, pigeon and bat DROPping samples as a principle reservoir for Cryptococcus neoformans.A total of 534 eucalyptus samples, 48 pigeon DROPping and 30 bat DROPping samples were collected to isolate and identify Cryptococcus neoformans.All collected samples were cultivated on SDA +chloramphenicol medium. A total of 250 out of 534 eucalyptus samples, 12 out of 48 pigeon DROPping and zero out of 30 bat DROPping samples with a percentage of 46.7%, 25% and o % respectively, recovered yeast The yeast isolates were identified primary by cultivation on rice agar medium. The yeast isolates suspected to be Cryptococcus neoformans were 10 out 0f 534 eucalyptus samples and 8 out of 48 pigeon DROPpings with a percentage of 1.9% and 16.6% respectiveAfter that, the suspected yeast isolates were subjected to different methods of identification to detect the main criteria of Cryptococcus neoformans and exclude other yeast such as microscopic morphology, capsule production, brown color effect, growth atThe direct microscopic examination of suspected yeast isolates with Gram stain, revealed unevenly stained Gram positive yeast cells, irregular in size, some showing budding and the capsule which surrounds the cell was not stained. The isolates recovered f