AIDS-associated cryptococcosis in Bujumbura, Burundi: an epidemiological study
Swinne, D.; Deppner, M.; Maniratunga, S.; Laroche, R.; Floch, J.J.; Kadende, P.
Journal of Medical and Veterinary Mycology Bi-Monthly Publication of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology 29(1): 25-30
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0268-1218 PMID: 2061793 DOI: 10.1080/02681219180000051Document Number: 317058
Researchers took 800 samples from the environment in Bujumbura, Burundi to examine the role of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans in HIV positive/AIDS patients. Specifically they took 375 dust samples from 25 houses of 24 AIDS patients with cryptococcosis (1 patient had 2 homes). 5 of the these patients lived in 1 area. So the researchers also took control samples from the same area. They also obtained contact plate samples from 10 internal medicine wards (4 with AIDS/Cryptococcosis patients, 2 AIDS patients who did not have cryptococcosis, and 4 vacant wards) in Kamenge University Hospital. The researchers isolated C. neoformans var. neoformans in the dust of 54% of the homes either occupied or recently occupied by the patients and in the dust of 20% of the control homes. Further 40% of the patients reported contact with pigeons. In fact, the researchers were able to sample the avian source of 25% (6) of all patients. They detected high doses of C. neoformans in 5 of the 6 pigeon coops. In those patients who did not report contact with pigeons, the researchers assumed these patients contracted cryptococcosis from spores in domestic dust. No spores were evident in the hospital wards including those with AIDS patients with cryptococcosis. Even though the researchers experiments with dissemination of spores did not reveal the extent of contamination they expected, they were sure that pigeon coops do play a contributory role in contaminating HIV positive and AIDS patients. Further they were concerned that AIDS patients who have received successful cryptococcosis treatment could be reinfected by returning to a home contaminated with dust harboring spores.