TY - JOUR
T1 - The outbreak of cryptococcus gattii in western North America
T2 - Epidemiology and clinical issues
AU - Byrnes, Edmond J.
AU - Marr, Kieren A.
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Over the previous decade, we observed the emergence of the fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus gattii, as a cause of disease in humans and animals in a temperate climate. This outbreak, first documented on Vancouver Island, has since expanded throughout Western North America, with non-travel-associated cases now in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. Additionally, a secondary outbreak, originating in and still restricted to Oregon, has also occurred. During the past several years, several studies detailing molecular typing, virulence, antifungal susceptibilities, epidemiology, and clinical issues have been published. These studies begin to address the complex dynamics of this novel emergence of a rare and fatal fungus, outline clinical characteristics of human cases, and also opened several new areas that should be explored in the upcoming years.
AB - Over the previous decade, we observed the emergence of the fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus gattii, as a cause of disease in humans and animals in a temperate climate. This outbreak, first documented on Vancouver Island, has since expanded throughout Western North America, with non-travel-associated cases now in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. Additionally, a secondary outbreak, originating in and still restricted to Oregon, has also occurred. During the past several years, several studies detailing molecular typing, virulence, antifungal susceptibilities, epidemiology, and clinical issues have been published. These studies begin to address the complex dynamics of this novel emergence of a rare and fatal fungus, outline clinical characteristics of human cases, and also opened several new areas that should be explored in the upcoming years.
KW - Cryptococcosis
KW - Fungal outbreak
KW - Meningitis
KW - Pacific Northwest
KW - Pneumonia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79956187795&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79956187795&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11908-011-0181-0
DO - 10.1007/s11908-011-0181-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 21461678
AN - SCOPUS:79956187795
SN - 1523-3847
VL - 13
SP - 256
EP - 261
JO - Current Infectious Disease Reports
JF - Current Infectious Disease Reports
IS - 3
ER -