A fungus called Cryptococcus neoformans
A fungus called Cryptococcus neoformans is present in the environment all around the planet. The organism is a spherical, encapsulated fungal cell that is not fermenting, and it appears to be distinctive in that it has a mucinous capsule. The organism can transform into yeast cells, which are the form best suited for temperatures of 37°C. It is modest in size (Desnos-Ollivier, 2015).
The organism and its hosts
The organism is a free-living entity that is connected to numerous hosts. Humans can contract it through inhaling dried yeast spores or spores from the environment. The organism also affects domestic and other wild animals despite the fact that transmission from humans and other animals has not been documented (Desnos-Ollivier, 2015).
Disease
Cryptococcosis is the infection triggered by the Cryptococcus neoformans which are due to the fungi through inhalation of the fungus. It translates to lung infection which may spread to the brain causing meningoencephalitis (Desnos-Ollivier, 2015).
Vector
The organism has a vector which is birds that spread the fungus from vegetation throughout the surroundings. No evidence links the organism with particular trees, but two varieties have been isolated as a result of decaying wood at several different species of trees (Hagen, 2015).
Transmission
Cryptococcus neoformans was secluded from pigeon and other bird and less recurrently in other veterinary and other environmental sources. The key approach of transmission is the gulp of air of spores from the surrounding which affect both the humans and the animals equally (Hagen, 2015).
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment is not always necessary to individuals who are healthy. However, it is important to receive check-ups to monitor the spreading of the infection. Patients with severe lung disease are advised to take amphotericin B in combination with flucytosine (Hagen, 2015). In some instances, surgery may be significant to remove fungal growths. The organism is spread through environment due to the droppings of the bird. Therefore, individuals who are immune-compromised should avoid areas that are known to be contaminated with the droppings of the birds (Hagen, 2015).
References
Desnos-Ollivier, M., Patel, S., Raoux-Barbot, D., Heitman, J., Dromer, F., Achard, J., … & Pulik, M. (2015). Cryptococcosis serotypes impact outcome and provide evidence of Cryptococcus neoformans speciation. MBio, 6(3), e00311-15.
Hagen, F., Khayhan, K., Theelen, B., Kolecka, A., Polacheck, I., Sionov, E., … & Boekhout, T. (2015). Recognition of seven species in the Cryptococcus gattii/Cryptococcus neoformans species complex. Fungal Genetics and Biology, 78, 16-48.
