title: Immunohistochemical diagnosis of Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii infection in chronic meningoencephalitis: the first case in Japan.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) var. gattii infection usually occurs in tropical and subtropical areas, and rarely in the northern hemisphere. We report the first Japanese with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis caused by C. neoformans var. gattii infection that occurred during a trip to Australia. This agent was identified in a cerebellar biopsy specimen by immunohistochemical technique with serotype-specific anti-sera. Because the meningitis caused by it did not respond well to conventional therapy, we used an aggressive therapeutic regimen to successfully treat the patient. Even in areas where C. neoformans var. gattii does not exist, this infection should be considered possible as a travel-related infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Medicine.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsunemi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fumimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamawaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suegara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizusawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014195:Travel