Distribution:
(1) worldwide distribution in subtropical and tropical regions
(2) forest of the Pacific Northwest especially Vancouver Island
Typical habitat: forest, soil
Sexual stage: Filobasidiella bacillispora
Infections may affect patients who are immunocompetent or immunocompromised due to underlying disease (HIV, other) or treatment.
Initial clinical symptoms may include fever, chills, night sweats, nausea, weight loss and muscular pain.
Most symptomatic patients present with pulmonary symptoms (cough, chest pain, dyspnea). Pulmonary involvement may include cryptococcoma.
Other sites of involvement:
(1) central nervous system (headache)
(2) eye (blurred vision)
(3) skin
(4) prostate
Laboratory diagnosis:
(1) capsular serotype (B or C; Cryptococcus neoformans is serotype A or D)
(2) genotype
