PCR-REA as an important tool for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii from human and veterinary sources

• Autor(a) principal: Cordeiro, Rossana Aguiar
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Outros Autores: 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
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC)
• Texto Completo: http://www.repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/5279
• topic: 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.