Zoonotic transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans from a magpie to an immunocompetent patient.

We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent female patient with exposure to a pet magpie (Pica pica). Genetically indistinguishable isolates were cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient and excreta of the bird. Our data strongly suggest zoonotic transmission of Cry...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of Internal Medicine Vol. 257; no. 4; pp. 385 - 389
Main Authors:	Lagrou K, Van Eldere J, Keuleers S, Hagen F, Merckx R, Verhaegen J, Peetermans WE, Boekhout T
Format:	case study diagnostic images pictorial Journal Article
Published:	Wiley-Blackwell Apr2005
Online Access:	View this record in EBSCOhost

Description
Summary:	We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent female patient with exposure to a pet magpie (Pica pica). Genetically indistinguishable isolates were cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient and excreta of the bird. Our data strongly suggest zoonotic transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii from a magpie to this patient.