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Current Infectious Disease Reports
Published in: Current Infectious Disease Reports 3/2011

01-06-2011

The Outbreak of Cryptococcus gattii in Western North America: Epidemiology and Clinical Issues

Authors: Edmond J. Byrnes III, Kieren A. Marr

Published in: Current Infectious Disease Reports | Issue 3/2011

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Abstract

Over the previous decade, we observed the emergence of the fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus gattii, as a cause of disease in humans and animals in a temperate climate. This outbreak, first documented on Vancouver Island, has since expanded throughout Western North America, with non–travel-associated cases now in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. Additionally, a secondary outbreak, originating in and still restricted to Oregon, has also occurred. During the past several years, several studies detailing molecular typing, virulence, antifungal susceptibilities, epidemiology, and clinical issues have been published. These studies begin to address the complex dynamics of this novel emergence of a rare and fatal fungus, outline clinical characteristics of human cases, and also opened several new areas that should be explored in the upcoming years.
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Metadata
Title
The Outbreak of Cryptococcus gattii in Western North America: Epidemiology and Clinical Issues
Authors
Edmond J. Byrnes III
Kieren A. Marr
Publication date
01-06-2011
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Infectious Disease Reports / Issue 3/2011
Print ISSN: 1523-3847
Electronic ISSN: 1534-3146
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-011-0181-0

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