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Cryptococcal meningitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans VNI in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) with progressive

A Teh1, R Crisman2, E Dwars3

  • 1Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.

Australian Veterinary Journal
|April 23, 2025
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of meningitis in a koala was caused by Cryptococcus neoformans VNI, despite nasal colonization by Cryptococcus gattii. This highlights the potential for C. neoformans to cause severe CNS disease in koalas.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Mycology
  • Wildlife Pathology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cryptococcosis in koalas is predominantly caused by the Cryptococcus gattii species complex.
  • Cryptococcus neoformans is a less common cause of cryptococcosis in koalas, particularly in Australia.

Observation:

  • A koala presented with seizures and was diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) cryptococcosis.
  • Post-mortem examination revealed Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis and nasal colonization by both C. neoformans VNI and Cryptococcus gattii VGI.

Findings:

  • Fungal cultures confirmed pure C. neoformans infection in the brain and spinal cord.
  • MLST identified the C. neoformans isolates as ST 23 (VNI) and C. gattii isolates as ST 51 (VGI).
  • The koala's meningitis was likely an extension of C. neoformans VNI from nasal colonization.

Implications:

  • This is the second documented case of CNS cryptococcosis due to C. neoformans in a koala and the first in Australia.
  • It underscores the importance of considering C. neoformans in koala cryptococcosis, even when C. gattii is present.
  • Further research into the pathogenesis and treatment of cryptococcosis in koalas is warranted.
Keywords:
Cryptococcus neoformanscryptococcuskoalameningitismultilocus sequence typing

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