Primary Cutaneous mycosis in an Immunocompetent Parrot Keeper Due to Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract

The prime objective of this paper is to delineate the etiologic significance of Cryptococcus neoformans in primary cutaneous mycosis of a 34- year- old male immunocompetent person, who was occupationally exposed to the excreta of a caged parrot. The biopsy obtained from the cutaneous lesion of a parrot keeper was examined in Indian ink mount, and was cultured onto the plates of Pal’s sunflower seed medium. In addition, the urine and blood of patient was also inoculated on Pal’s sunflower seed medium to rule out the systemic infection. In order to establish the source of infection, samples of parrot droppings, and wooden box were examined on Pal’s sunflower seed medium. Microscopic examination of clinical specimen in India ink preparation revealed circular, wide, thickly encapsulated yeast cells of Cryptococcus neoformans . Numerous dark brown colored colonies of C. neoformans grew from biopsied tissue on Pal’s sunflower seed medium. The microscopic morphology of the fungal isolates was done in Narayan stain. There was no growth of C. neoformans from blood, and urine of the patient on Pal’s sunflower seed medium. The pathogen was easily recovered from the parrot droppings, and wooden box on Pal’s sunflower medium. These findings conclusively established that the patient acquired primary cutaneous cryptococcosis from his immediate environment as revealed by the presence of C. neoformans in the excreta, and wooden cage of the caged parrot.