Cryptococcus gattii

Cause: Fungus Cryptococcus. Notifiable condition surveillance is only for C. gattii.

Illness and treatment: Symptoms include severe cough with shortness of breath, chills, night sweats, and loss of appetite. Typical presentations are meningitis and pneumonia. Infection of the kidneys, prostate, and bone may also occur. Treatment is with antifungals.

Sources: C. gattii is an environmental fungus that has been isolated from native trees, soil, and air in the Pacific Northwest. Exposure is through inhalation of the organism.

Prevention: There are no specific precautions.

Recent Washington trends: Since 2004, 60 animals (including porpoises, cats, dogs, and birds) have tested positive in Washington. Since 2006, 1–9 human cases are reported each year, some with presumed in-state exposure.

Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance

  • To detect the emergence of Cryptococcus gattii in Washington
  • To improve the number of suspected cases that are laboratory confirmed
  • To monitor trends in the epidemiology of cryptococcal disease due to C. gattii

Legal Reporting Requirements

Human or animal infections with C. gattii are reportable in Washington State. 

  • Health care providers and health care facilities: C. gattii infections notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 business days
  • Laboratories: Cryptococcus gattii or undifferentiated Cryptococcus species (i.e., Cryptococcus not identified as C. neoformans) positive result by any method excluding cryptococcal antigen notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 2 business days; specimen submission required – isolate or if no isolate specimen (except serum) associated with positive result, within 2 business days; submission on request – serum within 2 business days
  • Veterinarians: animal cases notifiable to Washington State Department of Agriculture (see: https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=16-70)
  • Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days.

Resources

Notifiable Conditions Directory