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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Horse: a potential source of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cry...
BMC veterinary research2022; 18(1); 17; doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-03127-x

Horse: a potential source of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Egypt.

Abstract: Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic mycozoonosis of global significance in a wide variety of host species. In equines, cryptococcosis is uncommon, and sporadic cases have been reported with rhinitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Cryptococcus spp. represents a potential risk for immunosuppressed and healthy persons. In Egypt, epidemiological data on cryptococcal infection in horses are limited. The current study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in horses and its possible role in the epidemiology of such disease in Egypt. A total of 223 samples was collected from different localities in Egypt included 183 nasal swabs from horses, 28 nasal swabs from humans, and 12 soil samples. Bacteriological examination and the identification of Cryptococcus spp. were performed. Molecular serotyping of Cryptococcus spp. was determined by multiplex PCR using CNa-70S/A-CNb-49S/A. The virulence genes (LAC1, CAP59, and PLB1) of the identified isolates were detected by PCR. Moreover, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the C. gattii gene from horses, humans, and soil isolates found nearby were performed. Results: The overall occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in horses were 9.3, 25, and 10.7% in horses, the soil, and humans, respectively. Molecular serotyping of the Cryptococcus spp. isolates recovered from the nasal passages of horses proved that C. gattii (B), C. neoformans, and two hybrids between C. neoformans (A) and C. gattii (B) were identified. Meanwhile, in case of soil samples, the isolates were identified as C. gattii (B). The human isolates were serotyped as C. gattii in two isolates and C. neoformans in only one isolate. Molecular detection of some virulence genes (LAC1), (CAP59), and (PLB1) were identified in both C. gattii and C. neoformans isolates. The C. gattii gene amplicons of the isolates from horses, humans, and the soil were closely related. Conclusions: This study provides the first insights into the Egyptian horse ecology of Cryptococcus species and highlights the role of horses as asymptomatic carriers in disseminating the potentially pathogenic Cryptococcus spp. It also presents the possible risk of cryptococcosis infection in humans.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-01-04 PubMed ID: 34983525PubMed Central: PMC8725405DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03127-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article investigates the prevalence of the fungus Cryptococcus in horses in Egypt, its potential as a source of infection for humans, and its role in the spread of cryptococcosis, a disease that affects humans and a variety of animals.

Research Context

  • Cryptococcosis is a significant global mycozoonosis (a disease transmitted from animals to humans) caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii.
  • While it is rare in horses, it can cause severe symptoms such as sinusitis, pneumonia, and even meningitis.
  • The research was conducted because Cryptococcus spp. represents a risk for both immunosuppressed and healthy individuals, and previously, there had been limited data on Cryptococcus infections in horses in Egypt.

Methodology

  • The researchers collected 223 samples from diverse locations in Egypt, including 183 swabs from horses’ noses, 28 from human noses, and 12 soil samples.
  • The samples were then examined bacteriologically to identify any presence of Cryptococcus spp. The fungi were then subjected to molecular serotyping by multiplex PCR using specific primers.
  • To better understand the virulence (severity of disease a pathogen causes) of the identified Cryptococcus spp., the researchers also checked for the presence of specific genes (LAC1, CAP59, and PLB1) known to be associated with virulence.
  • Additional sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were done on the C. gattii samples from horses, humans, and soil to understand their genetic relationships.

Results

  • The research found Cryptococcus spp. present in the samples from horses (9.3%), soil (25%), and humans (10.7%).
  • The molecular serotyping indicated the presence of both Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans, including some hybrids of the two, in the horse samples. Soil and human samples also showed both species, but less diversity.
  • The virulence genes were present in both the C. gattii and C. neoformans isolates, indicating the potential for severe disease.
  • Phylogenetic analysis showed that the C. gattii found in horses, humans, and soil were closely related, suggesting a common source or transmission route.

Conclusion

  • This study provides the first insights into the presence and potential public health risk of Cryptococcus spp. in Egyptian horses.
  • The findings highlight horses’ role as asymptomatic carriers of this type of fungi, potentially contributing to its spread to humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Mohammed R, Nader SM, Hamza DA, Sabry MA. (2022). Horse: a potential source of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Egypt. BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-03127-x

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 17

Researcher Affiliations

Mohammed, Rahma
  • Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt.
Nader, Sara M
  • Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt.
Hamza, Dalia A
  • Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt. daliahamza@cu.edu.eg.
Sabry, Maha A
  • Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cryptococcosis / epidemiology
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
  • Cryptococcosis / veterinary
  • Cryptococcus gattii / isolation & purification
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification
  • Egypt / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Soil

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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