Spread of
Cryptococcus gattii in British Columbia, Canada, and detection in the Pacific Northwest, USA.
Projecting global occurrence of
Cryptococcus gattii.
Cryptococcus gattii was not isolated from any of the samples in this study, which is consistent with the results obtained from another study in Santiago, Chile.
Scientists are trying to figure out why and how
cryptococcus gattii emerged over the past decade in the Pacific Northwest.
Infectious disease faculty and fellows at the Oregon Health and Science University have contributed to Oregon's studies of Clostridium difficile diarrhea, emerging
Cryptococcus gattii infections, nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, and surveillance and control of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.
BACKGROUND:
Cryptococcus gattii emerged on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC), Canada, in 1999, causing human and animal illness.
WASHINGTON --
Cryptococcus gattii, a meningitis-causing fungus previously confined to tropical and subtropical climates outside of the United States, has caused severe illness in at least 19 individuals--of whom 4 died--in the Pacific Northwest United States since 2006.
For example, warmer average global temperatures may allow the geographic range of fungi typically restricted to tropical and subtropical environments, such as
Cryptococcus gattii, to expand into areas that are currently more temperate (20).
The organism was identified as
Cryptococcus gattii by 2002.
Distinguish characteristics of
Cryptococcus gattii infection
One article in this issue reports the incidence of
Cryptococcus gattii disease, once believed to be restricted to tropical regions, but which is now found in locations as disparate as Vancouver Island, Canada and parts of the southeastern United States (4).
Which of the following statements regarding
Cryptococcus gattii infections is most accurate?
