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A case of cryptococcus gattii in Western Florida: An aggressive pathogen in an immunocompetent host

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tiro, AV; Springer, DJ; Irby, R; Averill, F; Ottaviani, A; Heitman, J; Perfect, JR
Published in: Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice
March 12, 2015

Background Cryptococcus gattii is an environmental pathogenic yeast that produces disease in the skin, the respiratory tract, and the central nervous system of both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. The incidence of C. gattii disease is increasing in frequency and, importantly, appears to be spreading its geographic clinical appearance since the first identified case series, which had shown defined boundaries. Case A 56-year-old previously healthy woman presented for medical care with 3 weeks of progressive weakness, headache, neck pain, and back pain. Initial computed tomographic scan results of the head and the spine were normal. However, chest x-ray showed a large right upper lobe mass. Bronchoscopic examination revealed a partially obstructing endobronchial polyp, on which a biopsy was performed, and culture of the tissue grew encapsulated yeast cells. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed multiple rim-enhancing lesions, and cerebrospinal fluid grew encapsulated yeasts that were identified as C. gattii, molecular-type VGI. Conclusions This is a virulent VGI strain of C. gattii, causing infection in an immunocompetent host in Western Florida with no recent travel history. Here, we discuss clinical, laboratory, diagnostic, and pathologic findings of the clinical presentation and its delayed diagnostic appearance in a nonendemic area.

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Published In

Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice

DOI

EISSN

1536-9943

ISSN

1056-9103

Publication Date

March 12, 2015

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

105 / 108

Related Subject Headings

  • Microbiology
  • 3207 Medical microbiology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1108 Medical Microbiology
  • 1107 Immunology
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Tiro, A. V., Springer, D. J., Irby, R., Averill, F., Ottaviani, A., Heitman, J., & Perfect, J. R. (2015). A case of cryptococcus gattii in Western Florida: An aggressive pathogen in an immunocompetent host. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice, 23(2), 105–108. https://doi.org/10.1097/IPC.0000000000000211
Tiro, A. V., D. J. Springer, R. Irby, F. Averill, A. Ottaviani, J. Heitman, and J. R. Perfect. “A case of cryptococcus gattii in Western Florida: An aggressive pathogen in an immunocompetent host.” Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice 23, no. 2 (March 12, 2015): 105–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/IPC.0000000000000211.
Tiro AV, Springer DJ, Irby R, Averill F, Ottaviani A, Heitman J, et al. A case of cryptococcus gattii in Western Florida: An aggressive pathogen in an immunocompetent host. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice. 2015 Mar 12;23(2):105–8.
Tiro, A. V., et al. “A case of cryptococcus gattii in Western Florida: An aggressive pathogen in an immunocompetent host.” Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice, vol. 23, no. 2, Mar. 2015, pp. 105–08. Scopus, doi:10.1097/IPC.0000000000000211.
Tiro AV, Springer DJ, Irby R, Averill F, Ottaviani A, Heitman J, Perfect JR. A case of cryptococcus gattii in Western Florida: An aggressive pathogen in an immunocompetent host. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice. 2015 Mar 12;23(2):105–108.

Published In

Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice

DOI

EISSN

1536-9943

ISSN

1056-9103

Publication Date

March 12, 2015

Volume

23

Issue

2

Start / End Page

105 / 108

Related Subject Headings

  • Microbiology
  • 3207 Medical microbiology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1108 Medical Microbiology
  • 1107 Immunology
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences