ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2023
Comparative analysis of diagnostic methods for the detection of Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prediction of Post-Infectious Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Patients with Cryptococcal Meningitis Based on Clinical and Radiomics Data.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The Dynamiker cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay is an accurate, rapid and cost effective test comparable to culture for detection of cryptococcal meningitis.Journal of medical microbiology · 2026Article
- One-pot recombinase polymerase amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a assay for Cryptococcus neoformans.Applied microbiology and biotechnology · 2026Article
- Article
- Cryptococcal dumbbell inflammatory pseudotumor mimicking skull histiocytic sarcoma in immunocompetent patient.Surgical neurology international · 2026Article
- Synthetic Multiepitope Protein-Based Plasmonic Immunosensor for Rapid, Label-Free Detection ofACS infectious diseases · 2025Article
- An Optimized In-House Protocol forJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Disseminated cryptococcosis in an HIV patient with hepatitis C as the associated risk factor.Current medical mycology · 2025Article
- Molecular diagnostics in cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnosis of central nervous system infections.Clinical microbiology reviews · 2024Review
- Postpartum cryptococcosis in an HIV-negative patient.Infection · 2024Article
- Clinical features and prognostic factors of cryptococcal infections in HIV-infected patients: a 10-year study from an infectious disease specialist hospital.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCryptococcosis is a devastating opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals, primarily in people living with HIV/AIDS. This study evaluated a protocol for the early diagnosis of meningitis due to C. neoformans, utilizing established molecular techniques from serum and CSF samples.
methodsThe 18S and 5.8S (rDNA-ITS) sequence-specific nested PCR assays were compared with direct India ink staining and the latex agglutination test for detection of C. neoformans in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 49 Brazilian suspected meningitis patients. Results were validated with samples obtained from 10 patients negative for cryptococcosis and HIV, and by analysis of standard C. neoformans strains. PRINCIPAL
findingsThe 5.8S DNA-ITS PCR was more sensitive (89-100%) and specific (100%) than the 18S rDNA PCR and conventional tests (India ink staining and latex agglutination) for identification of C. neoformans. While the 18S PCR exhibited a sensitivity (72%) similar to that of the latex agglutination assay in serum samples, it was superior to the latex agglutination assay when testing CSF, with a sensitivity of 84%. However, the latex agglutination was superior to the 18SrDNA PCR in specificity in CSF (92%). The 5.8S DNA-ITS PCR yielded the highest levels of accuracy (96-100%) of any test for detection (serological and mycological) of C. neoformans in both serum and CSF.
conclusionUse of the nested 5.8S PCR was superior to other techniques for the diagnosis of cryptococcosis. The possibility of using serum, a non-invasively collected material, in a targeted 5.8S PCR analysis to identify Cryptococcus spp. is recommended, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Our results indicate that nested 5.8S PCR can increase the diagnostic capability of cryptococcosis, and we suggest its use to monitor patients in the future.
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