الفهرس 
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Abstract
Cryptococcus has gained medical importance over the last decade, as it represents a potential risk for immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals. Previous studies reported cryptococcosis in equines is uncommon, sporadic cases have been reported with rhinitis, sinusitis, pneumonia and meningitis. There are no epidemiological data on the prevalence of this fungus in horses and donkeys. The current study was carried to investigate the possible role of these animals in the epidemiology of such pathogen. A total of 275 samples were collected from different localities in Egypt included 263 nasal swabs (183 from horses, 52 from donkeys and 28 from humans) in addition to 12 soil samples. Bacteriological examination and identification of Cryptococcus were performed. The overall occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in the investigated samples was 14.8, 11.5, 25 and 10.7% in horse, donkeys, soil and human, respectively.Molecular serotyping of Cryptococcus spp. isolates recovered from the nasal passage of horses and donkeys proved that C. gattii (B) and C. neoformans were identified; in addition, two hybrids between C. neoformans (A) and C. gattii (B) were identified in horse samples. While in case of soil samples, the isolates were identified as C. gattii (B). The human isolates were serotyped as C. gattii in two isolates and C.neoformans in only one isolate. Molecular detection of some virulence genes among the identified isolates showed that LAC1 and CAP59 genes have been the most frequently detected genes. In horse, soil and human samples both LAC1&CAP59 genes were identified in C.gattii and C.neoformans isolates, on the other hand PLB1detected only in C.gattii. While the identified virulence genes in donkeys’ C. gattii and C. neoformans isolates demonstrated higher laccase (LAC1) genes. While capsular associated protein (CAP59) gene identified alone or associated with LAC1 gene in C. gattii isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of C.gattii from horses, human and soil samples that found in close vicinity demonstrated that they were closely related. To our best knowledge this is the first research evaluating Cryptococcus species emergence in equines and donkeys. This study provides the first insights into the ecology of Cryptococcus species in Egypt and highlights the role of these animals as asymptomatic carriers for disseminating the potentially pathogenic Cryptococcus spp in the environment. It also reflects the potential risk of human infection with cryptococcosis. In order to strengthen existing therapeutic and control approaches, further analyses of the main risk factors and the other virulence of these pathogens should be considered too.