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Meningitis is an unusual manifestation of blastomycosis and can be very difficult to diagnose. Cryptococcus (Cryptococcal meningitis) - it is thought to be acquired through inhalation of soil contaminated with bird droppings. C. neoformans is the most common pathogen to cause fungal meningitis.
Cryptococcal meningitis is a primary contributor to mortality among individuals with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. [63] Approximately 160,000 cases of cryptococcal meningitis are reported in West Africa, resulting in 130,000 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. [64] Uganda is reported to have the highest occurrence of cryptococcus meningitis. [54]
Cryptococcus gattii, formerly known as Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii, is an encapsulated yeast found primarily in tropical and subtropical climates. Its teleomorph is Filobasidiella bacillispora, a filamentous fungus belonging to the class Tremellomycetes.
Cryptococcal antigen from cerebrospinal fluid is thought to be the best test for diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis in terms of sensitivity, though it might be unreliable in HIV-positive patients. [12] The first genome sequence for a strain of C. neoformans (var. neoformans; now C. deneoformans) was published in 2005. [5]
Cryptococcus is a genus of fungi in the family Cryptococcaceae that includes both yeasts and filamentous species.The filamentous, sexual forms or teleomorphs were formerly classified in the genus Filobasidiella, while Cryptococcus was reserved for the yeasts.
Conditions where confirmatory diagnostic testing is necessary: HCMV infection (CMV retinitis or infection of organs other than liver, spleen, or lymph nodes; onset at age one month or more) Extrapulmonary cryptococcosis including meningitis; Any disseminated endemic mycosis (e.g. extrapulmonary histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, penicilliosis)
Steroid co-therapy is not indicated in cryptococcal meningitis and may worsen outcomes and delay recovery. [3] Hydrocephalus is a common complication in chronic infectious meningitis, including tuberculosis and cryptococcal meningitis. In cases of hydrocephalus, intracranial pressure is controlled by serial therapeutic lumbar punctures (often ...
In Africa, cryptococcal meningitis is now the most common cause of meningitis in multiple studies, [40] [41] and it accounts for 20–25% of AIDS-related deaths in Africa. [42] Other less common pathogenic fungi which can cause meningitis include: Coccidioides immitis , Histoplasma capsulatum , Blastomyces dermatitidis , and Candida species.