Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Cryptococcus
MICROBIOLOGY
- Yeast-like, round fungus; usual size is 5-10µm with polysaccharide capsule [Fig].
- Reproduces by narrow-based budding.
- Epidemiology: worldwide in soil, high levels in pigeon droppings (but this relevance is questionable for human disease).
- Two species:
- C. neoformans historically divided into four serotypes (A to D) described based upon the capsule components with 2 species and 2 varieties causing human disease. Now based on genotypic evaluation, proposed:
- Serotype A: now known as C. neoformans v. grubii
- Serotypes B and C: C. gattii
- Serotype D: C. neoformans v. neoformans (most common) and worldwide in distribution
- C. gattii: more recently detected and seen primarily in Australia, Western Canada and the northwestern U.S. (Washington and Oregon).
- Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment are the same as with C. neoformans.
- Differences from C. neoformans include higher attack rates in healthy hosts and worse prognosis.
- It appears more resistant to fluconazole.
- The true extent of infection/epidemiology is not known.
- C. neoformans historically divided into four serotypes (A to D) described based upon the capsule components with 2 species and 2 varieties causing human disease. Now based on genotypic evaluation, proposed:
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Last updated: May 11, 2023
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul G. "Cryptococcus." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2023. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540147/all/Cryptococcus.
Auwaerter PG. Cryptococcus. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540147/all/Cryptococcus. Accessed September 28, 2023.
Auwaerter, P. G. (2023). Cryptococcus. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540147/all/Cryptococcus
Auwaerter PG. Cryptococcus [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. [cited 2023 September 28]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540147/all/Cryptococcus.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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