Incidence of cryptococcosis in and around Chandigarh, India, during the period 1982-91.

The incidence of cryptococcosis was evaluated in and around Chandigarh, India over a period of 10 years (1982-91). Different species of Cryptococcus were isolated from 38 patients. Cryptococcus neoformans was the predominant isolate (26 = 68%) followed by Cr. albidus (2), Cr. laurentii (1) and not precisely identified Cryptococcus species (9 = 24%). Serotyping of the 18 isolates of Cr. neoformans revealed that 13 (72%) were serotype A, two (11%) were serotype AD and three (17%) were serotype B (Cr. neoformans var. gattii). Cryptococcus species were found to produce infection in 24 patients and were possibly transient colonizers in another 14 patients. In addition, in 11 patients no Cryptococcus species was isolated from any site but the latex agglutination test for antigen (Crypto-LA) was positive in serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid. Response to various antifungal drugs was also studied in these patients.