Predominance of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii multilocus sequence type 5 and emergence of isolates with non-wild-type minimum inhibitory concentrations to fluconazole: a multi-centre study in China

There are few data on the molecular epidemiology of cryptococcosis in China. Here we investigated the species distribution, molecular types and antifungal susceptibilities of 312 Cryptococcus neoformans species complex isolates from ten hospitals over 5 years. Isolates were identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and by two matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) systems. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to verify species/variety and to designate molecular types. Susceptibility to six antifungal drugs was determined by the Sensititre YeastOne™ method. Cryptococcus neoformans was the predominant species (305/312 isolates (97.8%), all were ITS type 1, serotype A), of which 89.2% (272/305) were C. neoformans var. grubii MLST sequence type (ST) 5 and 6.2% (19/305) were ST31. Other C. neoformans var. grubii STs were rare but included six novel STs. Only two strains were C. neoformans var. neoformans (both serotype AD). Cryptococcus gattii was uncommon (n = 7, four ITS types) and comprised five MLST STs including one novel ST. For C. neoformans var. grubii, the proportion of isolates with non-wild-type MICs to fluconazole significantly rose in the fourth study year (from 0% (0/56 isolates) in the first year to 23.9% (17/71) in the fourth year), including five isolates with fluconazole MICs of ≥32 mg/L. The study has provided useful data on the species epidemiology and their genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility. The proportional increase in isolates with non-wild-type MICs to fluconazole is noted.