Isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and other yeasts from pigeon droppings in Egypt.

Two hundred pigeon droppings, unmixed with soil, and collected from various provinces in lower Egypt (Delta) were cultured to detect yeasts. Yeasts were isolated from 53.5% of the samples; Cryptococcus neoformans was recovered from 30 samples and Candida albicans from 19 samples. Other Cryptococcus and Candida species as well as species of Torulopsis and Rhodotorula were also encountered. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated on 13 occasions.