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Published on: February 8, 2012
Cryptococcus gattii genotype VGI infection in New England
Russell J McCulloh1, Raina Phillips, John R Perfect
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA. rmcculloh@lifespan.org
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|August 5, 2011
Summary
Cryptococcus gattii, an emerging infectious disease, caused severe lung and brain infections in a healthy adolescent in New England. This case highlights the pathogen
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Cryptococcus gattii is an emerging fungal pathogen.
- It is predominantly found in the Pacific Northwest, US, and British Columbia, Canada.
- Infections typically occur in immunocompromised individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of C. gattii infection.
- To describe the clinical presentation and genotype in an immunocompetent host.
- To expand the known geographic distribution of C. gattii.
Main Methods:
- Case report.
- Clinical data review.
- Genotyping of the C. gattii isolate.
Main Results:
- An immunocompetent adolescent from New England presented with severe pulmonary and central nervous system disease.
- The causative agent was identified as the VGI genotype of C. gattii.
- This represents a new geographic location for C. gattii infections.
Conclusions:
- Cryptococcus gattii can cause severe disease in immunocompetent individuals.
- The geographic range of C. gattii is expanding.
- Vigilance for C. gattii infections is warranted in new regions.
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