Abstract
Vancouver Island, Canada, reports the world's highest incidence of Cryptococcus gattii infection among humans and animals. To identify key biophysical factors modulating environmental concentrations, we evaluated monthly concentrations of C. gatti in air, soil, and trees over a 3-year period. The 2 study datasets were repeatedly measured plots and newly sampled plots. We used hierarchical generalized linear and mixed effect models to determine associations. Climate systematically influenced C. gattii concentrations in all environmental media tested; in soil and on trees, concentrations decreased when temperatures were warmer. Wind may be a key process that transferred C. gattii from soil into air and onto trees. C. gattii results for tree and air samples were more likely to be positive during periods of higher solar radiation. These results improve the understanding of the places and periods with the greatest C. gattii colonization. Refined risk projections may help susceptible persons avoid activities that disturb the topsoil during relatively cool summer days.
Highlights
Vancouver Island, Canada, reports the world’s highest incidence of Cryptococcus gattii infection among humans and animals
The statistical model controlled for a west-to-east gradient of increasing C. gattii concentrations across Vancouver Island and for seasonality
In British Columbia, Canada, C. gattii exhibits specialized habitat preferences. It thrives in the area of the Vancouver Island rain shadow, where winter temperatures are predominantly above freezing and summer temperatures are not too hot [15]
Summary
Vancouver Island, Canada, reports the world’s highest incidence of Cryptococcus gattii infection among humans and animals. C. gattii results for tree and air samples were more likely to be positive during periods of higher solar radiation. Refined risk projections may help susceptible persons avoid activities that disturb the topsoil during relatively cool summer days Opportunistic fungal infections, such as those caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, are common causes of death and illness among persons with compromised immune systems. Previous studies examined seasonal versus short-term (e.g., monthly) C. gattii associations and primarily focused on C. gattii dynamics on trees versus in the air or soil. Most long-term studies documented C. gattii dynamics on trees; seasonality of C. gattii may differ in the soil and air [5]. Our goal with this study was to determine the relative strength of associations between biophysical conditions and monthly C. gattii dynamics from the air, trees, and soil on Vancouver Island, Canada. 21.5°C study expands on previous research in the area by studying changes over time, using representative weather stations, considering more biophysical conditions, and using statistics that control for autocorrelation
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