Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 55, 2002 Laboratory and Epidemiology Communications A (〕ueensland Koala Kept in a Japanese Zoological Park was Carrier of an Imported Fungal Pathogen, Filobasidiella neoformans var. bacillispora (Cp7PtOCOCCuS neOformans var. gattii) Koichi Makimural,2*, Mizuki Karasawa3, Humio Hosoi3, Toshiki Kobayashi3, Nanako Kamijo3, Kazuhiro Kobayashi3, Hiroshi Hiramatsu3, Takako Akikawa3, Tomoko Yabe3, Ayumi Yamaguchi3, 0samu Ishida3, Arisa Murakamil, Ryuichi Fujisakil, Yayoi Nishiyamal,2, Katsuhisa Uchidal and Hideyo Yamaguchi1,2 J Teib)o UniversityInstitute ofMedical Mycology and 2Genome Research Center;乃i砂O UniversiO), 359 0tsuka, Hachioji, Too)0 19210395 and 3Tama Zoological Park, Hodokubo 7-1-1, Hino-shi, Too;0 191-0042 Communicated by Hiroshi Yoshikura (Accepted April 8, 2002) Filobasidiella neoformans var. bacillispora (anamorph: Cf7PtOCOCCuS neOformans var. gattii) (1 ) was isolated from a Queensland koala (Phascolactos cinereus adustus) kept in a zoologlCal park in Japan. To ourknowledge, this is first isola- tion of the variant yeast from an animal or human resident in Japan. A four-yearl01d male koala (bom in the Taropga Zoo, Australia) died of various neurological disorders, 1nCluding exophthalmo.s and swelling of the back of the left eye (Fig･ 1) and appetlte loss. Yeasts were isolated as pure cultures from nose discharge and autopsy materials (brain, nasal cavity, and lung), and diagnosed as Cryptococcus neoform?ns on the basis of the characteristic thick capsules. ExaminatlOn by an assimilation test, serologlCal test, and molecular biological test (2) revealed that the yeasts were F. neoformans var. bacillispora. Cryptococcosis is one of the four life-threatenlng, deepISeated Fig. 1. Frontal view ofdecorticated head. Exophthalmos ofleft eye and swelling of the back of eye (a汀OWS) were obseⅣed. fungal infections (pulmonary cryptococcosis,竺eningoen- cephalitis, etc.) in Japan, and the infection lS generally acquired by inhalation. This species ofbasidiomycetous yeast has two varieties: a Japanese domestic variety, F. neoformans intestine (1 ). In the endemic area, this yeast has been isolated var. neoformans (serotypes A and D) (3) and oneknown only from red gum trees (EucalJPtuS SPP.) (1), rotting trees (5), as an imported mycoses-causing variety, F. neoformans var. and animals including koala (1). In the present case, the fungus bacillispora (serotypes B and C) (4). The endemic area ofF･ was not isolated from the cage, its surroundings, red gum neoformans var. bacillispora infection is geographically trees provided as feed, Or the zookeepers who had been taking restricted to troplCal countries including Australia, Brazil, care of the koala. Five other koalas kept in the same cage were Southem Califbmia, Thailand, and others (1 ). free of the symptoms of the infection. Therefore, the risk of The clinical features of the cryptococcosis caused by the the spread of the infection appeared low in the zoological park. two varieties are similar, but infection due to F. neoformans It should be noted also that deepISeated mycoses including var. bacillispora tends to requlre lengthy antifungal treatment, cryptococcosis are not usually transmitted from animal to and is associated with more neurologlCal sequelae than that human or human to human. The koala probably acquired the due.to F･ neoformans var･ neoformens (1)･ Therefore, from a infection in the Taronga Zoo in Australia, where it was bom. clinlCal polnt Of view, differentiat10n diagnosis of the two The details of the present case will be reported elsewhere. agents is important. F. neofonnans var. neofonnans is present in pigeon droppings, This study was partly supported by Health Science Research Grants for Research on Emerglng and Re-emerglng Infec- ? major so.urce of infection, but F･ neoformans var･ bacillispora lS not, aS lt is thermosensitive and cannot suⅣive in plgeOn tious Diseases from Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. *Co汀eSpOnding author: Tel: +8ト426-78-3256, Fax: +8 1-426-78- 3256, E-mail: [email protected] 31 Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 55, 2002 length polymorphism. J. Jpn. Assoc. Infect. Dis., 68, REFERENCES 1512-1517. L Sorrell, T･ C･ (2001): CりPtOCOCCuS neOformans variety 4. Tsunemi, T., Kamata, T., Fumimura, Y, Watanabe, M., gattii･ Med. Myco1., 39, 1551168. 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