Skip to main content
Log in

Pulmonary infection with capsule-deficientCryptococcus neoformans

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Virchows Archiv A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A case of bilateral lobar pneumonia due toCryptococcus neoformans is presented. The capsule-deficient fungal organisms within tissue were suggestive ofHistoplasma capsulatum. Cultures grewCryptococcus neoformans and there was cryptococcal antigen in the serum. Pulmonary cryptococcosis and the occurrence of unencapsulated cryptococci are reviewed. The important role both culture and the latex agglutination test for cryptococcal antigen play in the differential diagnosis of systemic fungal infections with over-lapping histopathology are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, R.D., Haugen, R.K.: Tissue changes and tissue diagnosis in cryptococcosis. Am. J. Clin. Pathol.25, 14–23 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, J.E., Bailey, J.W.: Control for rheumatoid factor in the latex test for cryptococcosis. Am. J. Clin. Pathol.56, 360–365 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulmer, G.S., Sans, M.D.:Cryptococcus neoformans III. Inhibition of phagocytosis. J. Bacteriol. 95, 5–8 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, G.D.: Primary pulmonary cryptococcosis. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.94, 236–243 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmons, C.W.: Natural occurrence of opportunistic fungi. Lab. Invest.11, 1026–1032 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Farhi, F., Bulmer, G.S., Tacker, J.R.:Cryptococcus neoformans. IV. The not-so-encapsulated yeast. Infect. Immunol.1, 526–531 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Farmer, S.G., Komorowski, R.A.: Histologic response to capsule-deficientCryptococcus neoformans. Arch. Pathol.96, 383–387 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, B.D., Armstrong, D.: Cryptococcal interstitial pneumonia value of antigen determination. New Engl. J. Med.297, 1440–1441 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, J.S., Kaufman, L., Koenig, M.G.: Diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis: value of immunologic detection of crytococcal antigen. New Engl. J. Med.285, 434–436 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez, F., Fu, Y.S., Luri, N.I.: Cryptococcosis histologically resembling histoplasmosis. Arch. Pathol.99, 347–352 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammerman, K.J., Powell, K.E., Christianson, C.S., et al.: Pulmonary cryptococcosis: clinical forms and treatment. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.108, 1116–1123 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishag, C.M., Bulmer, G.S., Felton, F.G.: An evaluation of various environmental factors affecting propagation ofCryptococcus neoformans. Mycopathol. Mycol. Appl.35, 81–90 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, L., Blumer, S.: Value and interpretation of serological tests for the diagnosis of cryptococcosis. Appl. Microbiol.16, 1907–1912 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pidcoe, V., Kaufman, L.: Fluorescent-antibody reagent for the identification ofCryptococcus neoformans. Appl. Microbiol.16, 271–275 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prolla, J.C., Rosa, U.W., Xavier, R.G.: The detection ofCryptococcus neoformans in sputum cytology. Acta Cytol.14, 87–91 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Randhawa, H.S., Pal, M.: Occurrence and significance ofCryptococcus neoformans in the respiratory tract of patients with bronchopulmonary disorders. J. Clin. Microbiol.5, 5–8 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheppe, W.M.: Torula infection in man. Am. J. Med. Sci.167, 91–108 (1924)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, F.S., Gibson, P., Nicholls, T.T.: Pulmonary resection for localized lesions of cryptococcosis (torulosis): a review of eight cases. Thorax31, 121–126 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tynes, B., Mason. K.N., Jennings, A.E.: Variant forms of pulmonary cryptococcosis. Ann. Intern. Med.69, 1117–1125 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Utz, J.P., Garriques, I.L., Sande, M.A.: Therapy of cryptococcosis with a combination of Flucytosine and Amphotericin B. J. Infect. Dis.132, 368–373 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker, D., Sterrett, G.F.:Cryptococcus neoformans diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology of the lung. Acta Cytol.20, 105–107 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Harding, S.A., Scheld, W.M., Feldman, P.S. et al. Pulmonary infection with capsule-deficientCryptococcus neoformans . Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 382, 113–118 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102745

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102745

Key words

Navigation