Molecular and descriptive epidemiology of intestinal protozoan parasites of children and their pets in Cauca, Colombia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Parasitic infections, particularly those caused by protozoa, represent a considerable public health problem in developing countries. Blastocystis, Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and the Entamoeba complex (Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii) are the most common etiological causes of intestinal parasitic infections.

First isolation and molecular characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii in excreta of birds in the urban perimeter of the Municipality of Popayán, Colombia.

Background: Cryptococcosis is a systemic opportunistic mycosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, which affects mainly the central nervous system of immunocompromised patients; no reports have been made on the isolation of the fungus from the environment of Popayán, Colombia.

Aims: The main objective of this investigation was to determinate the incidence of C. neoformans in the urban perimeter in the City of Popayán, Colombia.