Table 1.

Epidemiology of cryptococcosis according to infecting species

Species	Cryptococcus neoformans	Cryptococcus gattii species complex
Geographic distribution	Worldwide temperate and tropical distribution	Less abundant globally; associated with tropical and subtropical regions, generally uncommon in temperate zones
Ecology	Avian guano, bark, tree trunk hollows	Tropical and temperate rainforest, especially eucalyptus trees, rotting wood, soil
Host range	Predominantly immunocompromised patients, especially HIV infection, also in immunocompetent patients	Immunocompetent individuals, sporadically in immunosuppressed, including HIV-infected patients
Appearance	Tan mucoid colonies; microscopically spherical to ovoid encapsulated cells	Tan mucoid colonies; microscopically mixture of globose and oblong to elliptical cells
Target organs	CNS infections	Pulmonary infection is more common

CNS central nervous system, HIV human immunodeficiency virus