TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 299. Cryptococcosis A1 - Lehman, Deborah A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. PY - 2011 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - Cryptococcosis is a sporadic, cosmopolitan mycotic disease caused by the yeastlike fungus Cryptococcus neoformans and its variant, Cryptococcus neoformans gattii.Cryptococcus species reproduce by budding and vary from 4 to 20 μm in diameter. The fungus is surrounded by a mucopolysaccharide capsule that aids in its identification in body fluids and tissues. Of the more than 30 species in the genus Cryptococcus, C neoformans and C gattii are the pathogenic yeasts of cryptococcosis. Both species cause similar clinical manifestations, primarily in the lung and central nervous system. C neoformans is most responsible for infection in immunocompromised individuals and occurs worldwide. C gattii more commonly infects immunocompetent hosts. C gattii was originally thought to be limited to tropical and subtropical regions, but a recent outbreak of C gattii on Vancouver Island in Canada demonstrated a wider distribution.1 SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/10/05 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7028972 ER -