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Cryptococcus gattii: An Emerging Cause of Fungal Disease in North America

Ashwin Dixit1, Scott F Carroll, Salman T Qureshi

  • 1Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3G 1A4.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
|June 9, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Cryptococcus gattii, once a minor pathogen, is now causing a significant outbreak in North America, even in healthy individuals. This fungal infection highlights evolving fungal ecology and its potential for serious human disease.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cryptococcus neoformans is a known threat to immunocompromised individuals.
  • Cryptococcus gattii was historically considered endemic to tropical regions like Australia.
  • Recent emergence of C. gattii in the Pacific Northwest has led to a large epidemic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review biological and clinical aspects of C. gattii relevant to the North American outbreak.
  • To compare the North American C. gattii outbreak with experiences in Australia and South America.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of C. gattii biological and clinical data.
  • Epidemiological analysis of C. gattii outbreaks.
  • Comparative analysis of C. gattii in different geographic regions.

Main Results:

  • C. gattii has emerged as a significant pathogen in a new region (Pacific Northwest).
  • The outbreak affects generally healthy individuals, unlike many other fungal infections.
  • Changes in fungal ecology and biology are likely drivers of this emerging threat.

Conclusions:

  • The epidemiology of C. gattii infection is changing.
  • C. gattii has the potential to cause serious human disease.
  • Understanding C. gattii's biology and clinical presentation is crucial for managing outbreaks.

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