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Fatal disseminated Cryptococcus gattii infection in New Mexico
Carla J Walraven1, Wendy Gerstein, Sarah E Hardison
1Section of Infectious Diseases, New Mexico Veterans Healthcare System, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
Plos One
|December 24, 2011
Summary
A fatal disseminated Cryptococcus gattii infection occurred in New Mexico. Molecular typing identified the strain as VGIII, showing reduced virulence in mouse models, suggesting local acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Epidemiology
Background:
- Cryptococcus gattii is an emerging fungal pathogen causing severe infections.
- Known endemic regions for C. gattii are primarily Australia, the Pacific Northwest, and parts of South America.
- Disseminated cryptococcosis can be fatal, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Observation:
- A patient in New Mexico developed a fatal disseminated infection with Cryptococcus gattii.
- The patient had no documented travel history to known C. gattii endemic areas.
- The specific C. gattii isolate was identified as belonging to the major molecular type VGIII.
Findings:
- Multilocus sequence typing confirmed the isolate as C. gattii VGIII.
- Virulence studies in a murine pulmonary infection model indicated this strain was less virulent compared to other C. gattii strains.
- This case suggests a potential for C. gattii acquisition within New Mexico.
Implications:
- This finding expands the known geographic range of Cryptococcus gattii.
- The presence of C. gattii VGIII in New Mexico warrants further epidemiological surveillance.
- Understanding the virulence of different C. gattii strains is crucial for risk assessment and clinical management.
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