Experimental murine cryptococcal infection results in contamination of bedding with Cryptococcus neoformans

Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci. 2003 Jul;42(4):9-12.

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that survives in diverse environments. To determine whether cages of mice infected with C. neoformans posed an infection risk to animal caregivers, we investigated whether the fungus could be isolated from the bedding or stool of mice infected by intratracheal (i.t.), intravenous (i.v.), or intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes. The bedding of mice infected i.t. was contaminated with C. neoformans. In contrast, no contamination of bedding with C. neoformans was detected in cages of mice infected i.v. or i.p. C. neoformans was not isolated from murine feces. The C. neoformans strain recovered from bedding material was indistinguishable from the infecting strain by biochemical and molecular techniques. This result suggests that precautions may be warranted when disposing bedding from cages that housed mice with pulmonary C. neoformans infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bedding and Linens / microbiology*
  • Cryptococcosis / etiology
  • Cryptococcosis / transmission
  • Cryptococcosis / veterinary*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / physiology*
  • DNA, Fungal / analysis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Equipment Contamination*
  • Housing, Animal*
  • Laboratory Animal Science*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Polysaccharides / blood

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • Polysaccharides
  • glucuronoxylomannan