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. 1981 Feb;31(2):560–563. doi: 10.1128/iai.31.2.560-563.1981

Distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans in a natural site.

A Ruiz, R A Fromtling, G S Bulmer
PMCID: PMC351344  PMID: 7012011

Abstract

Pigeon droppings in a vacant tower were assayed for the number and size of viable cells of Cryptococcus neoformans. The dry, thinly scattered floor debris contained 2.6 x 10(6) viable cells per g--300 times more cells than were cultured from a large, compact pile of pigeon droppings (7.4 x 10(3) cells per g). Aerosols generated from floor debris containing pigeon droppings had an average of 360 viable cells in 31 liters of air; 27 of these cells (7.5%) were 1.1 to 3.3 micrometers in diameter and, therefore, capable of human lung deposition. Environmental factors which may influence the distribution, survival, and proliferation of C. neoformans in nature are discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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