Suwannee KeerativaseePiyawan TakarnKanchai SanwongPrasit TharavichitkulPojana Sriburee2011-02-162011-02-162009-09-212009-09-21Chiang Mai Medical Journal; Vol.47 No.4 December 2008 (pages 149 - 199); 149 - 154http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/130598We investigated the occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans in avian droppings collected in the Chiang Mai area and Chiang Mai Zoo, from December 2005 to May 2006. A total of 360 avian dropping samples, comprising 263 from myna, pigeon, dove and chicken in seven districts of Chiang Mai and 97 from 27 avian species in Chiang Mai Zoo, were collected and studied. Antibiotic-treated suspensions of each sample were streaked onto L-dopa agar plates for the isolation of C. neoformans. Cultures were incubated at 37° C for 10 days. Suspected smooth black pigmented colonies were identified using microscopic morphology, India ink preparation and biochemical tests. Of the 263 samples, C. neoformans was isolated from 16/61 (26.2%) pigeon droppings, 2/10 (20.0%) dove droppings and 1/189 (0.5%) chicken droppings. Of the 97 samples collected from 27 avian species in Chiang Mai Zoo, C. neoformans was isolated from 1/9 (11.1%) red-billed hornbill droppings. Environmental sources of C. neoformans in Chiang Mai are from wild pigeon and dove droppings. C. neoformans in domestic chicken droppings was a rare occurrence in this study. Among the 27 captive species in Chiang Mai Zoo, avian droppings from red-billed hornbill were positive for this fungus.en-USChiang Mai Medical JournalOriginal Articles