Virology & Mycology
Open Access

Abstract

Pulmonary Cryptococcosis Secondary to Bronchial Asthma Presenting as Type I Respiratory Failure- A Case Report with Review of Literature

KV Ramana, Moses Vinay Kumar, Sanjeev D Rao, Akhila R, Sandhya, Shruthi P, Pranuthi M, Krishnappa M and Anand K

Cryptococcus spp, was first isolated and described in 1894 by Sanfelice F in Italy from peach juice and named it as Saccharomyces neoformans, is an yeast like fungus, first isolated from a clinical specimen by Busse in the same year from Germany. Cryptococci are a saprophytic fungi present in soil contaminated with bird droppings mainly of pigeons, roosting sites and decaying vegetables. Previous reports have also showed the presence of Cryptococcus spp colonized in the nasopharynx and on skin of healthy individuals. Belonging to Basidiomyctes group of fungi Cryptococcus spp primarily infects central nervous system causing meningoencephalitis mostly in immunocompromised individuals. Classical and molecular genetic studies have revealed that Cryptococcus spp are closely related to ascomycetes group (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe) and basidiomycetes pathogens and mushrooms (Ustilago
maydis,Coprinus cinereus, Schizophyllum commune)