Author(s): Cordeiro, Rossana Aguiar ; Costa, Ana Karoline Freire ; Brilhante, Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira ; Lima, Rita Amanda Chaves de ; Castelo-Branco, Débora de Souza Collares Maia ; Ribeiro, Joyce Fonteles ; Monteiro, André Jalles ; Rocha, Francisco Airton Castro ; Sidrim, José Júlio Costa ; Rocha, Marcos Fábio Gadelha
Date: 2013
Origin: Oasisbr
Subject(s): Cryptococcus neoformans; Cryptococcus gattii
The extraordinary ability of Cryptococcus species to cause disease has focused the attention of scientists on finding ways to improve their identification methods. In this study, PCR- REA, manual methods (morphological and biochemical characteristics), API 20C and VITEK 2 were used to test identify a total of 30 Cryptococcus spp. from human and veterinary sources. PCR-REA was performed using the capsular region as amplification target followed by restriction with the enzymes Age I, Bsm FI and Hpa II. PCR-REA identified the strains as C . neoformans var. grubii ( n = 19) and C . gattii ( n = 8). There was no significant difference between the API 20C AUX and VITEK 2 when compared to manual methods for the identification of Cryptococcus spp. However, none of these non-manual methods were able to detect C. gattii samples. PCR-REA showed a greater level of concordance with the manual method, besides being faster and more sensitive than the other methods. Therefore, it is indicated for routine identification of Cryptococcus spp. strains.
