Cryptococcus gattii was considered to be a mold found
only in semi tropical and topical climates until it
was found recently in the Pacific Northwest. It seems
to have adapted to the cool, wet environment on Vancouver
Island, Canada and spread from there to western Canada,
Washington (state) and Oregon. It may have already spread
to Idaho and California.
Normally, Cryptococcus molds are capable of causing
severe infections only in humans with compromised immune
systems, such as AIDS and cancer patients or those undergoing
immune system suppression for organ transplantation.
Unlike other forms of Cryptococcus, C. gattii can affect
persons with normal immune systems, resulting in severe
pulmonary and neurological infections. According to
epi Trends, (listserv.wa.gov/archives/epitrends),
a monthly public health bulletin published by the Washington
State Dept. of Health, as of 2005, there had been 129
human cases had been reported, of which, 4 had been
fatalities.
Because this fungus is now present in the environment,
there are no special precautions that can be taken to
avoid coming into contact with C. gattii. Routine antibiotics
for bacterial infection won’t work and may only
serve to promote further bacterial resistance to the
drugs. Treatment for C. gattii is the use of specific
antifungal drugs.
Infection with C. gattii may produce sharp chest pain,
prolonged cough, shortness of breath, fever, headache,
and weight loss. Patients may seem to have meningitis
or pneumonia, both of which have similar symptoms.
According to EMLAB P&K, one of the foremost mold
testing labs in the U.S., C. gattii can be cultured
and identified by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
test. Presently, it cannot be distinguished under the
microscope from other, related molds.
For more information or testing, contact us at 1-800-344-4414
or e-mail at info@atlenv.com
