Subcutaneous cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus diffluens in a patient with sporotrichoid lesions case report, features of the case isolate and in vitro antifungal susceptibilities

Med Mycol. 2007 Mar;45(2):173-81. doi: 10.1080/13693780601045166.

Abstract

Environmental fungi, in particular primary pathogens and Cryptococcus spp. can be responsible for skin lesions mimicking sporotrichosis. In this paper, we report a case of subcutaneous cryptococcosis in an apparently healthy, young male patient due to a non-C. neoformans Cryptococcus species, C. diffluens. The isolate showed in vitro phenotypic switching that may affect virulence and host inflammatory and immune responses, and in vitro resistance to amphotericin B and 5-flucytosin. This species shares several phenotypic traits with C. neoformans, and, therefore, decisive diagnosis should be based on biopsy and culturing results followed by molecular identification.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amphotericin B / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Base Sequence
  • Cryptococcosis / diagnosis
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology*
  • Cryptococcosis / pathology
  • Cryptococcus / cytology
  • Cryptococcus / drug effects*
  • Cryptococcus / isolation & purification*
  • Cryptococcus / physiology
  • DNA, Fungal / chemistry
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Flucytosine / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sporotrichosis / diagnosis

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 28S
  • Amphotericin B
  • Flucytosine

Associated data

  • GENBANK/DQ242643
  • GENBANK/DQ242644