Isolation of Cryptococcus spp. and Histoplasma capsulatum from soil and bird droppings at Kulik Bird Sanctuary, Raiganj, West Bengal, India

Cryptococcosis is an acute, subacute or chronic fungal disease caused by an encapsulated Basidiomycetes yeast belonging to the genus Cryptococcus. Among the many species of the genus “Cryptococcus” ubiquitously present in the environment Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are clinically significant. Cryptococcal meningitis is considered as an AIDS defining condition and is the most common fungal infection of the central nervous system in patients with or without impaired immune function. Histoplasmosis is a systemic granulomatous disease caused by a dimorphic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum.