| Sumario: | Cryptococcus is an encapsulated, basidiomycetous yeast causing lifethreatening disease affecting healthy and immunocompromised individuals, especially patients with AIDS. Among the 70 identified species of Cryptococcus, Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes are the major causative agents of human cryptococcosis. Thought the epidemiologic studies help to evaluate the condition of the disease in each country, there is no extensive documented data about various aspects of cryptococcosis in Iran. In Middle East, the epidemiological data about cryptococcosis are restricted to a few report. In Iran, cryptococcosis is relatively rare disease to date and few cases were reported incidentally from 1969 to 2015, 13 cases have been published from Iran. Environmental survey of bird guano, soil for C. neoformans species complex showed between 0.8 and 34%, Eucalyptus trees has found to harbor C. gattii, while the survey of decaying wood has no results. It might be expected that the life style and cultural changes in Iran that increase HIV infection and associated immunosuppression would therefore allow C. neoformans /C. gattii species complex to becoming an emerging pathogen in this region. CrAg LFA (Cryptococcal Antigen Lateral Flow Assay) is an immunochromatographic dipstick assay for the qualitative and semiquantitative detection of CrAg in CSF, serum or plasma has that shown equivalent or superior overall sensitivity compared to that of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and latex agglutination (LA) test. CrAg LFA is applicable for screening of the serum of HIV patients with CD4 < 100 with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99.8%. CrAg LFA is heat-stable, inexpensive and requires minimal training for optimal use particularly in resource-limited settings. This novel test has the potential of being a point-of-care test and may substantially reduce the universal burden of cryptococcal meningitis. In Iran, with high morbidity and mortality of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV+/AIDS patients, a surveillance study about molecular type of causative agents and implement CrAg LFA into existing ART programs and diagnostic algorithms may provide a rational framework for the design of prevention and control strategies within Iran.
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