[Intestinal cryptococcosis: an unusual presentation of disseminated cryptococcosis]

Cryptococcosis is a serious infection caused by an encapsulated yeast-like fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans. It is pathogenic most often in the lungs and central nervous system of immunocompromised patients. In this work we report an unusual localization of cryptococcosis in an HIV-infected patient. This rare localization was diagnosed from a stool sample sent to our laboratory for parasitological study. Direct examination of fresh stool showed the presence of many large, rounded thick-walled fungi. India ink staining of the stool showed encapsulated cryptococci, and C. neoformans was isolated by culture. Despite flucanazole treatment, the patient died.