Objective: Cryptococcus neoformans which belongs to the class Basidiomycetes is an encapsulated yeast that is among the most prevalent agents of life-threatening fungal infections especially in immunsupressed individuals. Contrary to the reports from many countries, only one C. neoformans has been isolated from Eucalyptus camaldulensis as a niche for the yeast, in Mediterranean and Aegean region of Anatolia by consecutive studies reported between 1999-2010.

Materials and Methods: In this study, swabbing technique was used for environmental screening of C.neoformans in Gökova-Akçapınar region where only one strain of C. neoformans has been isolated in the area in 2003. The present research was carried out with approximately 1400 living E. camaldulensis trees. Only 17 large tree trunk hollows were found. Their swabbing samples have been cultured by Staib agar with antibiotic and biphenyl supplement.

Results: C. neoformans colonization was found as 11/17 (64.7%) and 7/11 (63.6%) in tree trunk hollows in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Mean colony counts were 35.0±9.7 per swab.

Conclusion: Gökova region is a "hot spot" for C. neoformans in Anatolia. It was postulated that swabbing methods should be chosen for environmental sampling of tree trunk hollows even in the areas with repeated negative results by conventional sedimentation technique.