A. T. Londero

Cryptococcus neoformans varieties as agents of cryptococcosis in Brazil

The study of the clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from 83 Brazilian patients with disseminated cryptococcosis showed that 75 were C. neoformans var. neoformans and 8 were var. gattii. Twenty-seven isolates were serotyped; all 19 var. neoformans were serotype A and all 8 var. gattii were serotype B. The correlation of the varieties of C. neoformans with the presence or not of hosts predisposing conditions to the mycosis showed that: (1) cryptococcosis caused by gattii variety occurred in 7 (58.3%) of the 12 nonimmunosuppressed patients, and (2) cryptococcosis caused by neoformans variety occurred in 65 (98.5%) of the 66 AIDS patients and in all 5 patients with other immunosuppressive conditions. The comparison of the distribution of the gattii and neoformans varieties between the nonimmunosup-pressed and immunosuppressed patients showed a significant statistical difference (p < 0.01).

The primary pulmonary lymph node complex in paracoccidioidomycosis.

A case of primary pulmonary lymph node complex in paracoccidioidomycosis is reported.

Acute pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis in an immunosuppressed patient.

A case of an acute pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis following the use of immunosuppressive therapy in a solid cancer patient is reported.

Petriellidium boydii fungus ball in a patient with active tuberculosis

A case ofP. boydii fungus ball occurring in a patient with an active tuberculosis is reported. A critical review on pertinent literature is also presented.

Spontaneously resolving pulmonary lesions in paracoccidioidomycosis

A case of spontaneously healed pulmonary paracoccidioidal lesions is reported. The correlation of reported cases of regressive lesions with the clinical forms of the mycosis is attempted.

Oxalosis associated with an Aspergillus niger fungus ball. Report of a case

During a seventeen day period an A. niger fungus ball evolved within a healed tuberculous cavity of a patient. Symptoms were a cough with a chocolate brown expectoration and dyspnea. The patient died and necropsy was performed. Crystals of calcium oxalate were deposited in the cavity lining and in the adjacent tissue of the lung. Fibrosis, mononuclear infiltration and intraalveolar purulent exudate were seen in these tissues. Some small vessels presented recent thrombosis and deposition of calcium oxalate. The bronchus connected with the cavity presented a disrupted epithelial layer, edema, polymorphonuclear infiltration and birefringent crystals. Scattered areas of tubular atrophy, glomerular sclerosis and lymphoid infiltration were seen in the cortex of the kidney. Oxalate crystals were also seen within the renal tubuli.