Zoonotic transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans from a magpie to an immunocompetent patient

. Lagrou K, Van Eldere J, Keuleers S, Hagen F, Merckx R, Verhaegen J, Peetermans WE, Boekhout T (University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, CT Utrecht, the Netherlands) Zoonotic transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans from a magpie to an immunocompetent patient (Case report). J Intern Med 2005; 257: 385–388. . We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent female patient with exposure to a pet magpie (Pica pica). Genetically indistinguishable isolates were cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient and excreta of the bird. Our data strongly suggest zoonotic transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii from a magpie to this patient.