TY - JOUR
T1 - Spread of Cryptococcus gattii into Pacific Northwest Region of the United States
AU - Datta, Kausik
AU - Bartlett, Karen H.
AU - Baer, Rebecca
AU - Byrnes, Edmond
AU - Galanis, Eleni
AU - Heitman, Joseph
AU - Hoang, Linda
AU - Leslie, Mira J.
AU - MacDougall, Laura
AU - Magill, Shelley S.
AU - Morshed, Muhammad G.
AU - Marr, Kieren A.
PY - 2009/8
Y1 - 2009/8
N2 - Cryptococcus gattii has emerged as a human and animal pathogen in the Pacific Northwest. First recognized on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, it now involves mainland British Columbia, and Washington and Oregon in the United States. In Canada, the incidence of disease has been one of the highest worldwide. In the United States, lack of cryptococcal species identification and case surveillance limit our knowledge of C. gattii epidemiology. Infections in the Pacific Northwest are caused by multiple genotypes, but the major strain is genetically novel and may have emerged recently in association with unique mating or environmental changes. C. gattii disease affects immunocompromised and immunocompetent persons, causing substantial illness and death. Successful management requires an aggressive medical and surgical approach and consideration of potentially variable antifungal drug susceptibilities. We summarize the study results of a group of investigators and review current knowledge with the goal of increasing awareness and highlighting areas where further knowledge is required.
AB - Cryptococcus gattii has emerged as a human and animal pathogen in the Pacific Northwest. First recognized on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, it now involves mainland British Columbia, and Washington and Oregon in the United States. In Canada, the incidence of disease has been one of the highest worldwide. In the United States, lack of cryptococcal species identification and case surveillance limit our knowledge of C. gattii epidemiology. Infections in the Pacific Northwest are caused by multiple genotypes, but the major strain is genetically novel and may have emerged recently in association with unique mating or environmental changes. C. gattii disease affects immunocompromised and immunocompetent persons, causing substantial illness and death. Successful management requires an aggressive medical and surgical approach and consideration of potentially variable antifungal drug susceptibilities. We summarize the study results of a group of investigators and review current knowledge with the goal of increasing awareness and highlighting areas where further knowledge is required.
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U2 - 10.3201/eid1508.081384
DO - 10.3201/eid1508.081384
M3 - Review article
C2 - 19757550
AN - SCOPUS:68049107386
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 15
SP - 1185
EP - 1191
JO - Emerging infectious diseases
JF - Emerging infectious diseases
IS - 8
ER -