title: Meningitis due to Prototheca wickerhamii in a patient with AIDS.
abstract: The first documented case of algal meningitis due to Prototheca wickerhamii is reported in a patient with AIDS. The initial CSF culture yielded only Cryptococcus neoformans. P. wickerhamii was isolated on four subsequent lumbar punctures. The patient died, and at autopsy the alga was isolated from leptomeninges over the brain and about the spinal cord. Histologic sections from numerous locations of the brain revealed masses of cryptococci and prototheca.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, University Hospital, Newark 07103-2425.
authors.forename: Z C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kapila
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Sharer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kloser
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016921:Meningitis, Fungal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011525:Prototheca / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B; D005437:Flucytosine