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

Kantarcioglu A. S., Boekhout T., De Hoog G. S., Theelen B., Yucel A., Ekmekci T. R., ...More

MEDICAL MYCOLOGY, vol.45, no.2, pp.173-181, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 45 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/13693780601045166
  • Journal Name: MEDICAL MYCOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.173-181
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

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.