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Virulence and antifungal susceptibility of environmental and clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from Puerto Rico

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Abstract

Studies on the distribution, epidemiology and pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans on the island of Puerto Rico are few. We have studied mouse virulence and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of 133 isolates of C. neoformans: 121 environmental and 12 clinical (9 from AIDS patients), that were isolated in Puerto Rico. In experimental CD-1 mice infected intravenously, the mean lethal dose 50% values (28 days) were > 5.2×106 and 1.1×105 cells/mouse for environmental and clinical isolates, respectively. Using an agar dilution assay, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of amphotericin B, ketoconazole and 5-fluorocytosine were comparable for environmental and clinical isolates in both yeast nitrogen dextrose base agar and Kimmig's agar. These data suggest a difference in lethality for mice, but no difference in antifungal susceptibility of environmental and clinical isolates of C. neoformans obtained in Puerto Rico.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Microbiology, Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research, P.O. Box 2000 (R 80T100), 07065-0900, Rahway, New Jersey, USA

    Robert A. Fromtling & George K. Abruzzo

  2. Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 5777, 00708, College Station, Mayaguez, PR, USA

    Alejandro Ruiz

Authors
  1. Robert A. Fromtling
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  2. George K. Abruzzo
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  3. Alejandro Ruiz
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Fromtling, R.A., Abruzzo, G.K. & Ruiz, A. Virulence and antifungal susceptibility of environmental and clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from Puerto Rico. Mycopathologia 106, 163–166 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00443057

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00443057

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