Abstract
Fungi belonging to the Cryptococcus genus and related genera (Filobasidium, Holtermanniella, Naganishia, Papiliotrema, Solicoccozyma, Vishniacozyma) are encapsulated yeasts found in either the environment or animal sources. However, the precise biotopes of most species remain poorly defined. To assess whether wild birds from southern France can carry or spread the most pathogenic species (i.e., species belonging to the C. neoformans and C. gattii complexes), as well as lesser-studied species (non-neoformans/gattii Cryptococcus and former Cryptococcus spp.), 669 birds belonging to 89 species received for care over a two-year period at the Centre de Protection de la Faune Sauvage of Villeveyrac (Bird Protection League nongovernmental organization (NGO) care center) were sampled. Samples were cultured, and Cryptococcus and former Cryptococcus yeasts were identified by PCR sequencing. The purpose was to evaluate whether there was any health risk to local populations or care personnel in aviaries and gather new data on the ecological niches of lesser-known species. One hundred and seven birds (16%) were found to be positive for at least one Cryptococcus or former Cryptococcus species. No yeasts belonging to the highly pathogenic C. neoformans or C. gattii complexes were isolated. However, diversity was notable, with 20 different Cryptococcus or former Cryptococcus species identified. Furthermore, most bird–yeast species associations found in this study have never been described before.
Highlights
No species belonging to the highly pathogenic C. neoformans or C. gattii species complexes were found in the bird population sampled
Studies of the carriage of Cryptococcus and species formerly belonging to the Cryptococcus genus in free-ranging wild birds are rare because they are technically challenging as capture needs to be done without harming the animal
We found that RCFC species were distributed in fifteen bird orders, thirty-four bird genera, and thirty-seven bird species
Summary
Cryptococcus spp. are yeasts with a natural biotope that varies from species to species. The genus has recently undergone major classification changes, with the separation of. C. neoformans and C. gattii species into two complexes of two (C. neoformans/C. deneoformans) and five (C. gattii/C. bacilisporus/C. deuterogattii/C. tetragattii/C. decagattii) species, respectively [1,2]. Species other than C. neoformans/C. gattii have undergone taxonomic reclassifications and have been redistributed between the Cryptococcus genus and other genera, including Cutaneotrichosporon, Cystofilobasidium, Filobasidium, Hanalea, Holtermanniella, Naganishia, Papiliotrema, Solicoccozyma, Vishniacozyma, and Vanrija. C. magnus, C. chernovii, and C. oeirensis were reclassified as Filobasidium magnum, F. chernovii, and
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