Poster Presentation Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting 2013

The first identification of Cryptococcus cyanovorans sp. nov. from a human specimen (#226)

James Knox 1 , Susan V Coloe 1 , Margaret J Whipp 2 3 , Ian D Jennens 4 5 , Chandrika Perera 1 , Lynette J Waring 1
  1. Melbourne Pathology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. Microbiological Diagnostic Unit, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. Epworth Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  5. Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Introduction: Cryptococcus cyanovorans sp. nov. is a newly-described yeast, to date only isolated from cyanide-contaminated soil.1 Case History: A 61-year-old, diabetic man with rheumatoid arthritis was found to have pleurally-based lung nodules on routine pre-operative chest X-ray. The largest of these was resected for diagnosis. Histopathological examination revealed necrotising granulomatous changes, not consistent with rheumatoid nodules or sarcoidosis. Microbiological culture yielded an isolate identified as Cryptococcus cyanovorans sp. nov. by intergenic transcribed spacer region (ITS) sequencing. Conclusion: ITS sequencing has enhanced our ability to identify novel and seldom isolated fungal species.