title: Zoonotic transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans from a magpie to an immunocompetent patient.
abstract: We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent female patient with exposure to a pet magpie (Pica pica). Genetically indistinguishable isolates were cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient and excreta of the bird. Our data strongly suggest zoonotic transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii from a magpie to this patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat, Leuven 3000, Belgium. Katrien.lagrou@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lagrou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Eldere
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keuleers
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merckx
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhaegen
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Peetermans
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boekhout
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D015047:Zoonoses