J Mycol Med 2017 May 30. Epub 2017 May 30.

Lab. Micologia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy. Electronic address:

Cryptococcosis is a potentially fatal fungal disease caused by the basidiomycetes yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii with high predilection to invade the central nervous system mainly in immunocompromised hosts. Skin can be secondarily involved in disseminated infection or be exceptionally involved as primary cutaneous infection by inoculation with contaminated materials. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2017 19;4(1):ofw276. Epub 2017 Jan 19.

Dermatology Department, University Hospital Puerta del Mar, Andalusian Health Service, Cádiz, Spain.

Front Microbiol 2017 13;8:616. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Núcleo de Diagnóstico e Investigação Molecular, Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte FluminenseCampos dos Goytacazes, Brazil.

Patients with Mendelian Susceptibility to Mycobacterial Diseases (MSMD) exhibit variable vulnerability to infections by mycobacteria and other intramacrophagic bacteria (e.g., Salmonella and Klebsiella) and fungi (e. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2017 Apr 26;17(1):311. Epub 2017 Apr 26.

Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Background: Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans and most remarkably manifests in HIV-infected individuals, especially in the settings of very low CD4 count. Development of cryptococcosis in HIV-uninfected individuals is exceedingly rare and usually signifies a marked immunodeficiency. Cryptococcosis in association with myasthenia gravis or thymoma has been previously documented in only very few cases in the literature. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2016 Sep-Oct;91(5 suppl 1):29-31

Universidade do Oeste Paulista (Unoeste) - Presidente Prudente (SP), Brazil.

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans that tends to affect immunocompromised individuals. The fungi are mostly acquired by inhalation, which leads to an initial pulmonary infection. Later, other organs - such as the central nervous system and the skin - can be affected by hematogenous spread. Read More

JAAD Case Rep 2017 Jan 3;3(1):53-54. Epub 2017 Feb 3.

Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson, Mississippi.

Int J Dermatol 2017 Apr 15;56(4):452-454. Epub 2017 Feb 15.

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Oncodermatology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.

Vet Dermatol 2017 Aug 29;28(4):405-e97. Epub 2017 Jan 29.

Dermatopathology Specialty Service, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.

Background: Cryptococcosis is an uncommon fungal infection in humans and mammals. Occasionally, cryptococcosis manifests as cutaneous lesions, either as an extension of nasal disease or as stand alone lesions unassociated with the nose. Histologically, these lesions are typically characterized by abundant organisms with mild granulomatous dermatitis. Read More

Case Rep Dermatol 2016 Sep-Dec;8(3):250-253. Epub 2016 Oct 4.

Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas, Hospital Federal dos Servidores do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (HFSE), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A 50-year-old male underwent liver transplantation due to cryptogenic cirrhosis and was admitted with severe pain in the left leg as well as phlogosis. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was prescribed, assuming bullous erysipelas. Among the tests performed, the latex agglutination test for the Cryptococcus sp. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2017 Apr 6;19(2). Epub 2017 Mar 6.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.

Non-Candida opportunistic yeasts are emerging causes of bloodstream infection (BSI) in immunocompromised hosts. However, their clinical presentation, management, and outcomes in stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients are not well described. We report the first case to our knowledge of Pseudozyma BSI in a SCT recipient. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2016 Nov-Dec;91(6):832-834

Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) - Campo Grande (MS), Brasil.

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection of opportunistic behavior that is unusual in immunocompetent patients. We report a rare case of disseminated cryptococcosis with cutaneous involvement in an immunocompetent individual. During hospitalization, Cryptococcus gattii was isolated from skin lesions, lung and spinal fluid. Read More

Mycopathologia 2017 Jun 17;182(5-6):597-602. Epub 2016 Dec 17.

Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.

Cryptococcosis is a mycosis caused by yeasts of genus Cryptococcus, mainly the species C. neoformans and C. gattii that can affect humans and animals. Read More

JAAD Case Rep 2016 Nov 7;2(6):494-496. Epub 2016 Dec 7.

Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.

J Clin Diagn Res 2016 Oct 1;10(10):OC22-OC25. Epub 2016 Oct 1.

Professor & Head, Department of General Medicine, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .

Introduction: Splenic abscess is a rare entity with potentially life threatening complications. Sparse recent published data are available documenting the aetiological profile and management of patients with splenic abscess from India.

Aim: To study the clinical profile of splenic abscess. Read More

Intern Med 2016;55(22):3383-3386. Epub 2016 Nov 15.

Department of General Internal Medicine, Kobe University Hospital, Japan.

We herein report the case of a 63-year-old man who presented with a 3-month history of a cutaneous nodular lesion of his jaw, low grade fever, lethargy and progressive cognitive impairment. He had a 30-year history of multiple sclerosis and had been treated with fingolimod for the previous 2 years. Laboratory data revealed CD4 lymphocytopenia and a tissue culture of the skin nodule was positive for Cryptococcus neoformans. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2016 Nov 16;2016. Epub 2016 Nov 16.

Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Cryptococcus is a ubiquitous fungus and is known for causing meningitis and cutaneous infections in immunocompromised individuals. Disseminated cryptococcal infection is very rare and almost always found to occur in immunocompromised individuals especially in persons infected with HIV. This is particularly attributed to its capsulated spores. Read More

Transplant Proc 2016 Sep;48(7):2289-2293

Department of Nephrology, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal.

Background: In solid organ transplant patients, 8% of invasive fungal infections are attributed to Cryptococcus. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcome of kidney transplant recipients (TR) infected with Cryptococcus.

Case Series: Between 2007 and 2014, a total of 500 kidney transplantations were performed at São João Hospital, in Porto, Portugal. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2017 Mar 26;56(3):e56-e57. Epub 2016 Sep 26.

División de Dermatología, Section of Mycology, General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González, México City, Mexico.

Dermatol Ther 2017 Jan 16;30(1). Epub 2016 Sep 16.

Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Dermatol Online J 2016 Jun 15;22(6). Epub 2016 Jun 15.

Departments of Dermatology University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a common fungus found throughout the environment that causes opportunistic disease in immunocompromised individuals. Infection of humans with C neoformans usually manifests as lung disease through inhalation of spores or meningoencephalitis by involvement of the central nervous system. Rarely, dissemination in the form of cutaneous lesions can occur in individuals with long term immunosuppression. Read More

Med Mycol J 2016 ;57(3):E35-9

Noguchi Dermatology Clinic.

A 68-year-old male plasterer with no history of trauma presented to our clinic in March 2012 with a 16×14-mm ulcer that developed following a crushed small papule on the right anterior chest. In April 2012, the patient was referred to another hospital, where cutaneous cryptococcosis was diagnosed based on discharge culture results. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole at a dose of 150 mg/day for 10 weeks; however, the ulcer remained unchanged and he discontinued the treatment. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2016 Jun 31;43(6):546-8. Epub 2016 Mar 31.

Department of Cellular Pathology, Hospital El Bierzo, Ponferrada, Spain.

Fungal Genet Biol 2016 Feb 6;87:22-9. Epub 2016 Jan 6.

Molecular Microbiology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans (serotype D) represents about 30% of the clinical isolates in Europe and is present less frequently in the other continents. It is the prevalent etiological agent in primary cutaneous cryptococcosis as well as in cryptococcal skin lesions of disseminated cryptococcosis. Read More

JAMA Neurol 2016 Mar;73(3):355-6

Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

J Dermatol Case Rep 2015 Sep 30;9(3):76-80. Epub 2015 Sep 30.

Department of Pathology, SMS Medical College and Attached Hospitals, Jaipur, Rajasthan India.

Background: Cryptococcosis is a deep fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. The infection usually involves the lungs, the central nervous system as well as the skin, the bones and the urinary tract. Immunocompromised individuals, including solid organ transplant recipients, are at higher risk for cryptococcal infections. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2015 Oct 22;2015. Epub 2015 Oct 22.

Department of General Medicine, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disseminated cryptococcosis is uncommon and almost always occurs in HIV-infected patients. However, cryptococcosis can also be found in patients of organ transplantation, in those on disease modifying agents for rheumatological conditions and in patients with underlying immunodeficiency. Cryptococcal infection may occur in an immunocompetent patient, but the pathogenic strain is usually Cryptococcus gattii, and not C. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2016 Nov 6;185(4):959-963. Epub 2015 Aug 6.

National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University Clinical School of Medicine, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210002, China.

Objective: Cryptococcus is an opportunistic yeast with a worldwide distribution that primarily causes significant infections in immunocompromised individuals, generally by affecting the respiratory tract. But primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) without systemic infection is rare. We report a case of PCC in a patient with nephrotic syndrome. Read More

Cutis 2015 Jul;96(1):E26-9

11007 Blan Avon Rd, Midlothian, MD 21543, USA.

Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic yeast infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans that remains the most common systemic fungal infection in immunosuppressed patients and often presents with signs of meningitis. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) is a more rare clinical identity that is characterized by skin lesions confined to 1 body region, often presenting as a whitlow or phlegmon with positive culture for C neoformans and no evidence of simultaneous dissemination. We report a rare case of PCC in a 73-year-old man with intact cell-mediated immunity. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2015 Jul 21;2015. Epub 2015 Jul 21.

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Cryptococcosis is an infection caused by the encapsulated yeast, Cryptococcus neoformans, a dimorphic fungus recovered from pigeon excreta, soil, dust and human skin. After a primary infection in the lungs, the disease can disseminate via a haematogenous route to various organs, including the central nervous system and skin, in susceptible individuals. Cryptococcosis can present with a variety of skin and soft tissue manifestations including acneiform lesions, purpura, vesicles, nodules, abscesses, ulcers, granulomas, pustules, draining sinuses and cellulitis. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2015 Oct 14;17(5):716-8. Epub 2015 Aug 14.

Departments of Dermatology and Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection that typically occurs in severely immunocompromised patients. Here, we report the case of a heart transplant recipient who presented with cutaneous lesions and was diagnosed with disseminated cryptococcosis and then cryptococcal meningitis on the basis of positive Tzanck smear of the lesions, confirmed by culture, highlighting the importance of the skin as a window to systemic disease. Read More

JFMS Open Rep 2015 Jul-Dec;1(2):2055116915593963. Epub 2015 Jul 6.

Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.

Case summary We report a clinical case of blepharitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans yeasts in a 2-year-old stray cat from northern Portugal (Vila Real) without concurrent naso-ocular signs. Ophthalmological examination revealed mucopurulent discharge from an open wound in the right upper and lower lids. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed a normal anterior segment, and intraocular pressure was within the normal reference interval. Read More

Indian J Med Microbiol 2015 Jul-Sep;33(3):439-42

Department of Microbiology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India.

We present a case of pancytopenia and cutaneous cryptococcosis in a young girl with no complaints of fever, headache and vomiting. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and further investigation for pancytopenia revealed presence of Cryptococcus in skin and bone marrow aspirates. Fungal cultures of the skin aspirates, blood and bone marrow confirmed cryptococcal infection. Read More

J Mycol Med 2015 Jun 8;25(2):163-8. Epub 2015 May 8.

Service de dermatologie, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, université Cadi Ayyad, hôpital Errazi, CHU Mohamed VI, 40000 Marrakech, Maroc.

Background: Cryptococcosis is a rare and a serious opportunistic infection that occurs primarily on the field of immunodeficiency. We report a case of disseminated cryptococcosis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome revealed by unusual skin lesions.

Observation: A 52-year-old patient consulted for two crusty ulcerative lesions situated on the left supraorbital and on the nasal tip that appeared 6 months ago. Read More

Hautarzt 2015 Jul;66(7):522-32

Labor für medizinische Mikrobiologie, Partnerschaft Prof. Dr. med. Pietro Nenoff & Dr. med. Constanze Krüger, Straße des Friedens 8, 04579, Mölbis, Deutschland,

Besides dermatophytoses, a broad range of cutaneous infections due to yeasts and moulds may occur in subtropical and tropical countries where they can affect travellers. Not to be forgotten are endemic occurring dimorphic or biphasic fungi in countries with hot climate, which cause systemic and secondary cutaneous infections in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent people. In the tropics, the prevalence of pityriasis versicolor, caused by the lipophilic yeast Malassezia spp. Read More

J Cytol 2014 Oct-Dec;31(4):230-2

Department of Pathology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated LNJP Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia first defined in 1992 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as the repeated presence of a CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count of fewer than 300 cells/cumm or of <20% of total T-cells with no evidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and therapy that might cause depressed CD4 T-cells. Read More

Mycopathologia 2015 Aug 4;180(1-2):19-25. Epub 2015 Mar 4.

Department of Dermatology and Mycology Center, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.

Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) has been confirmed as a distinct clinical entity with secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis from systematic infection since 2003. Although it has been confirmed as a distinct clinical entity, little has progressed on PCC in immunocompetent hosts compared to their immunocompromised counterpart. We reviewed the literature on cases of PCC in immunocompetent patients from 2004 to 2014, and 21 cases from 16 reports were identified. Read More

Case Rep Infect Dis 2015 2;2015:131356. Epub 2015 Feb 2.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic yeast present in the environment. Practitioners are familiar with the presentation and management of the most common manifestation of cryptococcal infection, meningoencephalitis, in patients with AIDS or other conditions of immunocompromise. There is less awareness, however, of uncommon presentations where experience rather than evidence guides therapy. Read More

Klin Padiatr 2015 Jan 7;227(1):41-4. Epub 2015 Jan 7.

University Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.

Here we report on a case of primary cryptococcal skin infection in an immunocompetent 8-year-old boy. The infection first manifested itself as a subcutaneous abscess around the proximal joint of his right thumb after a minor injury from contact with a thorny shrub. After surgical incision and drainage was performed, Cryptococcus neoformans var. Read More

Med Mycol 2015 Feb 30;53(2):132-44. Epub 2014 Dec 30.

Robert Koch Institute, FG16, Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Berlin, Germany

In a retrospective study, we investigated 52 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from cats with histologically confirmed cutaneous and subcutaneous mycoses to determine if the pathogens could be identified by molecular methods. Aim of the study was to obtain a deep understanding of the spectrum of infectious agents, which, as we hypothesized, was not available by histopathology alone. Detection of feline and fungal DNA was achieved in 92. Read More

J Mycol Med 2014 Dec;24(4):e185-8

Service de dermatologie et de vénérologie, CHU Yalgado, Ouédraogo, Burkina Faso.

Unlabelled: Cutaneous cryptococcosis is an uncommon aetiology of chronic facial ulceration but which may be associated to a potentially lethal focus of cryptococcosis.

Observation: A 35-year-old AIDS patient under antiretroviral therapy, presented with a chronic facial ulceration. Histopathological examination of a biopsy of the facial ulceration showed an inflammatory granuloma and masses of yeasts. Read More

Med Mycol Case Rep 2014 Oct 11;6:31-3. Epub 2014 Sep 11.

Vichaiyut Hospital, 71/3 Setsiri Road, Phyathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Skin and soft tissue fungal infections with Apophysomyces elegans, Fusarium solani, Cladophialophora bantiana have been reported in survivors from 2004 Indian ocean Tsunami. We report the first case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus gattii VGII in a Tsunami survivor from Thailand. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2014 Dec 27;183(4):691-2. Epub 2014 Sep 27.

Department of Dermatology, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland,

Intern Med 2014 15;53(12):1385-90. Epub 2014 Jun 15.

Department of Infection Control Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Japan.

A 50-year-old man with a history of long-term corticosteroid treatment following adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus was admitted for an examination of an abnormal thoracic shadow. Cryptococcal serum antigens were positive, and the histopathology of a lung biopsy showed encapsulated yeast resembling Cryptococcus neoformans. On admission, the serum β-D-glucan level was approximately twice the cutoff value, several nodules were observed on both legs and magnetic resonance imaging revealed subcutaneous abscesses. Read More

Mycoses 2014 Jul 24;57(7):442-7. Epub 2014 Feb 24.

Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Primary Cutaneous Cryptococcosis is an uncommon infection caused by the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii. Few case reports are available in the literature describing in detail primary cutaneous cryptococcosis due to C. Read More

Br J Haematol 2014 Feb 23;164(4):467. Epub 2013 Oct 23.

Centre for Haemato-Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts and the London NHS Trust, West Smithfield.

Case Rep Oncol Med 2013 26;2013:862585. Epub 2013 Nov 26.

Department of Internal Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, No. 5512, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.

We present a case of a patient with HIV/AIDS who presented with a tender left lower extremity cutaneous mass over a site of previous cryptococcal infection and was found to have plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL). The incidence of PBL is estimated to account for less than 5% of all cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in HIV-positive individuals. In fact, there were only two reports of extraoral PBL at the time of a 2003 review. Read More

J Infect Dev Ctries 2013 Sep 16;7(9):680-5. Epub 2013 Sep 16.

Aga Khan University and Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

Cryptococcosis is a potentially fatal fungal disease caused by variants of Cryptococcus neoformans species.  The respiratory tract is the usual portal of entry, with a peculiar predilection to invade the central nervous system.  The skin can be secondarily involved in disseminated infection or be exceptionally involved as primary cutaneous infection by inoculation. Read More

Mycobiology 2013 Jun 30;41(2):67-72. Epub 2013 Jun 30.

Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 456-756, Korea.

Pathogenic microbes secrete various enzymes with lipolytic activities to facilitate their survival within the host. Lipolytic enzymes include extracellular lipases and phospholipases, and several lines of evidence have suggested that these enzymes contribute to the virulence of pathogenic fungi. Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans are the most commonly isolated human fungal pathogens, and several biochemical and molecular approaches have identified their extracellular lipolytic enzymes. Read More

Lupus 2013 Aug 16;22(9):892-8. Epub 2013 Jul 16.

División Reumatología, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Avenida Córdoba 2351, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Introduction: Infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Invasive fungal infections (IFI) comprise a group of diseases caused by Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Aspergillus and Candida. Few studies of IFI have been published in patients with SLE and associated factors have not been completely defined. Read More

J Feline Med Surg 2013 Jul;15(7):611-8

European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases.

Overview: Cryptococcosis is worldwide the most common systemic fungal disease in cats; it is caused by the Cryptococcus neoformans- Cryptococcus gattii species complex, which includes eight genotypes and some subtypes (strains) with varying geographical distribution, pathogenicity and antimicrobial susceptibility. Cats acquire the infection from a contaminated environment. The prognosis is favourable in most cases, provided a diagnosis is obtained sufficiently early and prolonged treatment is maintained. Read More