<div style="text-align: justify;">Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the major causes of Cryptococcosis, an invasive fungal infection of human and animals. Few data have been reported on the pathophysiology of Pattern I (PI) and Pattern IV (PIV) of C. neoformans with context of their clinical outcome. In this study an extensive comparison of PI and PIV was conducted to provide a more complete and reliable assessment of their biological and clinical behaviour. Representative strains of PI and PIV of C. neoformans were collected from Outreach Programme on Zoonotic Diseases (OPZD) at Department of Veterinary Public Health of West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences and infective inoculum was prepared by adjusting the number of Cryptococci at 3.25X 105 / ml in phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4). Mice were challenged with 0.2 ml of inoculum at lateral tail vein and infected mice were examined for histopathological study and survivability study for 21 days. This present study showed that PIV produced more cystic structure in brain (c2 =4.22, P&lt; 0.05) and granuloma in liver (c2=4.05, P&lt;0.05) with lower mean survival time (P= 0.044) but lack a statistical significance in micro-abscess formation in kidney (c2=0.017, P&gt; 0.05). PIV was associated with an approximate 4-fold increase in risk of death as compared with PI (P&lt; 0.05, OR= 4.38, 95% CL= 1.32 to 14.50). Our study suggested that Pattern IV produced more severe Cryptococcosis in murine model due to its difference in genotype.</div>

Comparative pathogenicity analysis of <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em> RAPD types

<div>Cryptococcus neoformans acts as a major etiology of human infections in immunocompromised, cancer and transplant patients. The present study was conducted to detect the occurrence and antifungal resistance of C. neoformans in domestic and feral pigeons in and around Kolkata, a metropolitan city in India with considerable size of pigeon population. Weathered droppings of domestic and feral pigeons (n=917) were collected from different pet bird shelters, different buildings and other places. Isolation and identification of C. neoformans was performed based on cultural, biochemical properties. Antifungal sensitivity of the confirmed isolates were performed according to standard CLSI protocols with seven antifungals and caspofungin. A total of 153(16.68%) samples were found positive for Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans. All the isolates possessed CNLAC1 outer gene in PCR. Antifungal sensitivity revealed marked resistance to amphotericin-B (33.33%), fluconazole (20.91%), flucytosine (11.11%), and ketoconazole (8.49%). This is of great concern as the study area (Kolkata) is a densely populated city and the birds are in close proximity to the people.</div>


<div>Antifungal resistance in <em>cnlac1</em> possessing <em>Cryptococcus neoformans </em>isolated from domestic and feral pigeons in West Bengal, India</div>


Comparative pathogenicity analysis of Cryptococcus neoformans RAPD types

Antifungal resistance in cnlac1 possessing Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from domestic and feral pigeons in West Bengal, India