If phenoloxidase is present, it breaks down caffeic acid to melanin with resulting brown-black colour production.) [thunderhouse4-yuri.blogspot.com]

Clinical presentations also depend on the characteristics of the immunological competency of the patients. In general, it is a systemic fungal infection with its origin as the inhalation of C. neoformans, initially affecting the lungs. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The organism may be present in soil or dust and is often found in pigeon droppings, with resulting high concentrations on window ledges and around other nesting places. How humans become infected is not certain, but it is probably by… Read More [britannica.com]

A 36-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 2 week-history of headache, photophobia, and fever. [nejm.org]

• Present as discrete nodules - Cryptococcoma. 12 DR.T.V.RAO MD 13. [slideshare.net]

• Collapse

  Protection under drying condition: The capsule collapses and protects the yeast. Ideal size range for alveolar deposition : the cell size reduction, resulting from capsular collapse, places the yeast in the ideal size range for alveolar deposition. [microbeonline.com]

• Respiratory Distress

  The photos on this post were taken from speimens obtained from an 80 year old woman of Indian heritage who presented with respiratory distress. Unfortunately she succumbed to her infection. [thunderhouse4-yuri.blogspot.com]

• Stroke

  CNS (central nervous system) infection may also be present as a brain abscess known as cryptococcomas, subdural effusion, dementia, isolated cranial nerve lesion, spinal cord lesion, and ischemic stroke. [en.wikipedia.org]

• Papilledema

  Papilledema. 2008. Review Article: Singh, N., Perfect, J. Immune Reconstitution Syndrome Associated with Opportunistic Mycoses. The LANCET Infectious Diseases 2007; Vol.7, Issue 6, 395-401. [antimicrobe.org]

  Signs and symptoms of cryptococcal meningitis Headache Fever Change in mental status (ranging from confusion to lethargy to coma) Blurry vision (and other cranial nerve deficits) Neck stiffness Sensitivity to light Nausea and vomiting Seizures Papilledema [microbeonline.com]

• Seizure

  Signs and symptoms of cryptococcal meningitis Headache Fever Change in mental status (ranging from confusion to lethargy to coma) Blurry vision (and other cranial nerve deficits) Neck stiffness Sensitivity to light Nausea and vomiting Seizures Papilledema [microbeonline.com]

• Cryptococcus Antigen

  Plasma and CSF samples were tested by both real time PCR and the Cryptococcus antigen (CrAg) lateral flow assay (LFA) (IMMY Inc., Norman, Oklahoma). [nature.com]

Recommended treatment for cryptococcosis. [ Download PDF ] Vignettes R eview Article : Singh N, Treatment of opportunistic mycoses: how long is long enough ? Lancet Infect Dis 2003;3:703-08. Guideline: Perfect et al. [antimicrobe.org]

Treatment with flucytosine does not result in a cure (full clearance of infection and immunity). [ppdictionary.com]

[…] of antiretroviral therapy (ART), despite microbiological evidence of effective antifungal treatment.[ 8, 9 ] Footnotes Source of Support: Nil. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

TREATMENT• Immune competent - Fuconazole,Itraconazole• Immune Deficient – Amphotericin B Flu cytosine AIDS patients are not totally cured, Relapses are frequent with fatal outcome. Rapid resistance with Fluconazole. [slideshare.net]

(Sputum, Broncheal Wash, Lung Biopsy) Central Nervous System (CNS) - (Lumbar Puncture) Also implicated in; Skin infections Bone infections Other sites (disseminated) Treatment; (dependent on site of infection) Amphotericin B Flucytosine Fluconazole Prognosis [thunderhouse4-yuri.blogspot.com]

High antigen securities generally correlate with disease severity and likewise a decrease corresponds to a good prognosis. [mycology.imedpub.com]

@article{KwonChung2014CryptococcusNA, title {Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, the etiologic agents of cryptococcosis.}, author {Kyung J. Kwon-Chung and James A. [semanticscholar.org]

An analysis of 28 cases with emphasis on the clinical outcome and its etiologic agent. Rev Iberoam Micol. 2004;21:143-46. French MA, Price P, Stone SF. Immune restoration disease after antiretroviral therapy. AIDS. 2004;18:1615-27. Ruhnke M. [rarediseases.org]

C. neoformans is a form of yeast with biochemical, antigenic, and epidemiological differences. There are two known varieties. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Recent reports on outbreaks of cryptococcosis in goats due to C neoformans var gattii in Spain 19 will give new epidemiological insights. [jnnp.bmj.com]

EPIDEMIOLOGY• HIV• Lymphoproliferative disorders• Sarcoidosis• Corticosteroids• Hyper IgM or IgE syndrome• Monoclonal antibodies (infliximab)• SLE• CD4 T-cell lymphoma (idiopathic)• Diabetes• Organ transplant• Peritoneal dialysis• Cirrhosis• 20% without [slideshare.net]

Current knowledge on the epidemiology and clinical presentation of C. neoformans infection is clearly greater than that related to C. gattii. [nature.com]

This volume provides a comprehensive review of the ecology, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanisms, host immunity, clinical features and diagnostic conditions, and principles of treatment and prevention of this important fungal pathogen. [asmscience.org]

PREVENTION• Fluconazole prophylaxis• Active immunization- cryptococcal GXM-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine- in animal models, no human trials• Monoclonal antibodies- would require repeated injections• Avoid high risk environments 24. [slideshare.net]

This volume provides a comprehensive review of the ecology, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanisms, host immunity, clinical features and diagnostic conditions, and principles of treatment and prevention of this important fungal pathogen. [asmscience.org]

Taking this medication helps prevent relapses. [healthline.com]

The World Health Organization has also developed guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention, and management of cryptococcal disease in HIV-infected adults, adolescents, and children External, with a focus on resource-limited settings. [cdc.gov]

Therefore, the cell wall or the polysaccharide capsule could prevent the accessibility of caspofungin, a high-molecular weight drug, to its target enzyme. [genetics.org]