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| − | ==Cryptococcosis==
| + | [[Cryptococcosis]] |
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| − | *Over 19 species
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| − | **''C. neoformans'' only major pathogen
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| − | *Worldwide
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| − | *Occurs in high concentrations in pigeon droppings (high creatinine concentration)
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| − | **The pigeon is not infected
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| − | **''C. neoformis'' colonise the droppings after they have been excreted
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| − | **Also found in fruit, milk and soil
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| − | *Exogenous, inhaled infection which is generally sporadic (non-contageous)
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| − | **Can also be absorbed via skin penetration and ingestion
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| − | *May be a primary pathogen or opportunistic
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| − | *Targets the [[Cardiorespiratory System - Anatomy & Physiology|respiratory system]]
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| − | **Including the [[Paranasal sinuses - Anatomy & Physiology|paranasal sinuses]]
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| − | **Also can be systemic, cutaneous, visceral, skeletal or ocular
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| − | *Causes sporadic mastitis in cattle
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| − | **Can spread within the herd
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| − | *Affects the [[Nervous and Special Senses - Anatomy & Physiology#Central Nervous System (CNS)|CNS]] of dogs and cats
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| − | **[[Paranasal sinuses - Anatomy & Physiology|paranasal sinuses]] and [[Pharynx - Anatomy & Physiology|pharynx]] can be infected with dissemination to the [[Nervous and Special Senses - Anatomy & Physiology#Central Nervous System (CNS)|CNS]] and other tissues
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| − | ***E.g. [[Lungs - Anatomy & Physiology|Lungs]], [[Urinary System - Anatomy & Physiology#The Kidney|kidneys]] and [[Joints - Anatomy & Physiology|joints]]
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| − | **Also causes subcutaneous granulomas
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| − | **The tip of the nose is a common site of infection in cats
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| − | ***See [[Respiratory Fungal Infections - Pathology#In Cats|here]]
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| − | *Causes myxoma-like lesions of the [[Lungs - Anatomy & Physiology|lung]] and [[Lips - Anatomy & Physiology|lip]] in horses
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| − | *Causes cryptococcal meningitis in humans
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| − | *Also affects dolphins, foxes, ferrets, monkeys, birds, cheetahs and guinea-pigs
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| − | *Large yeast with capsule seen using India ink stain
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| − | *Stains with PAS (Periodic acis Schiff)
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| − | *Gram positive
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| − | *Grows on blood agar and Sabouraud's Dextrose agar forming white, granular colonies which become slimy, mucoid and turn creamy/brown within a week
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| − | *Species identified by carbohydrate assimilation tests
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| − | *Antigen and antibody should be tested for as [[Immunoglobulins - WikiBlood|antibody]] formed by the body is soon overwhelmed and neutralised by abundent polysaccharide antigen from the capsule in active, systemic infections
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| − | **Latex agglutination for [[Adaptive Immune System - WikiBlood#Actions of the Adaptive Immune System|antigen]], complement fixation, ELISA and IFAT can be used
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| | ==Geotrichosis== | | ==Geotrichosis== |