Cryptococcosis in Asia

Abstract

Human cryptococcosis is caused by encapsulated basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans, and less frequently by C. gatti. Both species are ubiquitously distributed in the environment, and can be isolated from the bark of a wide variety of tree species and from other organic matter, notably, bird feces. They are typically opportunistic pathogens. Both species can be easily extracted from the environment. Primary infection, acquired by inhalation, is most often asymptomatic. This is followed by hematogenous dissemination, which occurs primarily in hosts with defective cell-mediated immune responses (e.g., HIV infection, solid organ and stem cell transplant recipients, etc.). Cryptococcal meningitis (CM), the commonest clinical manifestation of cryptococcosis, is potentially fatal, accounting for 15% of AIDS-associated deaths.