This week.... Cryptococcus neoformans
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Under the Scope
www.edlab.org
by Dr. Rajiv Sahay, EDLab Manager
Pure Air Control Services and the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory are pleased to introduce "Under the Scope", a new section of the IEQ REVIEW. There are over 100,000 species of fungi. Many fungi are good and useful (edible mushrooms would be an example of these) while some cause problems (some fungi can injure plants and humans). Every week the IEQ Review will describe a specific microorganism, its morphological origin and potential health effects. If you would like to know about a specific organism and/or would like it published in The IEQ Review please email Dr. Rajiv Sahay with the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDL) at Pure Air Control Services laboratory@pureaircontrols.com
This week we will cover...
Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated basidiomycete yeast-like fungus with a predilection for the respiratory and nervous system of humans and animals. Two varieties, C. neoformans var. neoformans and C. neoformans var. gattiiare distinguishable biochemically and by molecular techniques. C. neoformans can cause disease in apparently immunocompetent, as well as immunocompromised, hosts. Most susceptible to infection are patients with T-cell deficiencies. C. neoformans var. neoformans causes most cryptococcal infections in humans.
C. neoformans var. neoformans is found worldwide; its main habitats are debris around pigeon roosts and soil contaminated with decaying pigeon or chicken droppings. Not part of the normal microbial flora of humans, C. neoformans is only transiently isolated from persons with no pathologic features. It is generally accepted that the organism enters the host by the respiratory route in the form of a dehydrated haploid yeast or as basidiospores. After some time in the lungs, the organism hematogenously spreads to extrapulmonary tissues; since it has a predilection for the brain, infected persons usually contract meningoencephalitis. If untreated, cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is 100% fatal, and even when treated with the most effective antifungal drugs, cryptococcal infections can be fatal if the host does not have adequate T-celldependent immune function.
Cryptococcus neoformans
For more information contact:
Dr. Rajiv Sahay
(800) 422-7873 ext. 304
laboratory@pureaircontrols.com
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