Vancouver Island Fungus

journey on · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: Vancouver Island Fungus

My Tumwater daughter sent this a month or so back. Has anybody heard of it? Any comments? I plan to visit the islands west coast (by boat,) but not with the risk of this. Heres one for Dr. Bob

Sometimes -lethal fungus found on Canada's W. Coast

By Carolyn Abraham
TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL
A tropical and potentially lethal fungus that has mysteriously made a home on Canada's temperate West Coast has prompted foreign medical experts to issue a worldwide alert to doctors and tourists.
The warning comes after a 51-year-old Danish visitor contracted the rare and life-threatening fungal infection on Vancouver Island. In the, January issue of the Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, published monthly by- the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, doctors in Denmark - who eventually found clumps of the fungus growing in the man's chest - have cited the island as a potential health risk to travelers.
Cryptococcus gattii, a microscopic pathogen normally found in tropical or subtropical locales in Australia, Africa, India or South America, was first identified on Vancouver Island in 2001. Many suspect that global warming
has recently enabled the one celled organism to thrive in the trees, soil, water and air along the island's east coast.
While chances of contracting C, gattii remain low, the airborne cells and spores can lodge deep in the lungs, leading to pneumonia. The fungus can also attack the central nervous system and result in meningitis. As of December 2006, 165 people had been infected and eight have died.
Animals, household pets in particular, have been hardest hit. But the corpses of infected porpoises have also washed ashore, making this one of the world's few, true multispecies outbreaks.
Human cases have emerged on the British Columbia mainland, Oregon and Washington state. "We are now up to 33 cases per million. We surpass any other place in the world," said Dr. Pamela Kibsey, medical director of microbiology at the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

Boris

Socrateur · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject:

Here is a link to some info on the fungus. I wouldn't worry about it.

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject:

Boris, read the link, then go to B.C.! Looks like you've got a greater chance of getting hit by lightning! Shocked

Charlie

Jimbo · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject:

Boris;
I travel over to the west coast of the island quite a bit and have never had a problem, but then again I'm not "over 60" (yet) or taking "oral steroids" either. Something to keep in mind!!!
Jimbo

BrentB · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject:

In India, several cases were linked to imported Eucalyptus trees from Australia. I believe the source of BC cases is still unresolved.
Go to ProMED-mail then search on Cryptococcus
http://www.promedmail.org/
Another source is Doctor Fungus site.
www.doctorfungus.org/

Cryptococcus neoformans_ is a fungal organism with worldwide
distribution. There are several variations/strains of which the 2 most
common are _C. neoformans_ var. _neoformans_ and _C. neoformans_ var.
_gattii_. The var. _gattii_ is seen more frequently in tropical or
subtropical climates. The organism is found in soil and bird droppings
(including pigeons); the var. _gattii_ has also been isolated from foliage
and bark of certain species of eucalyptus trees.

Sporadic cases of cryptococcosis occur in all parts of the world.
Cell-mediated immunodeficiency and immunosuppression are predisposing
conditions for clinical disease.

Clinical disease includes a subacute or chronic meningitis, infection of
lungs, kidneys, prostate and bone; skin involvement such as acneiform
lesions, ulcers or subcutaneous nodules have also been described. Eye
infections have resulted in blindness.

According to GIDEON <http://www.gideononline.com/>: Cryptococcosis was
first described in 1894. Only 300 cases were reported in the world's
literature prior to 1955; however, rates increased dramatically with the
advent of immunosuppressive therapy -- and subsequently AIDS. Thus, 338
cases were confirmed in the United States alone in 1976. Mortality due to
cryptococcosis increased from 0.09/100,000 in 1980, to 0.12/100,000 in 1994.

80% to 90% of infections are AIDS-associated. Cryptococcosis exceeds
_Pneumocystis carinii_ as an opportunistic pathogen among AIDS patients in
parts of Central Africa. The disease is found in 30% of AIDS patients in
Africa and Southeast Asia, and in 6% to 10% in the United States. Over 50%
of cryptococcosis reported in the United States is AIDS-associated. _C.
neoformans_ infection is also documented in 2.8% of organ transplant
recipients.

1: Chen S, Sorrell T, Nimmo G, Speed B, Currie B, Ellis D, Marriott D,
Pfeiffer T, Parr D, Byth K.Epidemiology and host- and variety-dependent
characteristics of infection due to _Cryptococcus neoformans_ in Australia
and New Zealand. Australasian Cryptococcal Study Group. Clin Infect Dis.
2000 Aug;31(2):499-508.

2: Correa Md, Oliveira EC, Duarte RR, Pardal PP, Oliveira Fd, Severo
LC.[Cryptococcosis in children in the State of Para, Brazil]. Rev Soc Bras
Med Trop. 1999 Sep-Oct;32(5):505-8.

3: Peachey PR, Gubbins PO, Martin RE. The association between cryptococcal
variety and immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Pharmacotherapy.
1998 Mar-Apr;18(2):255-64.

4: Maxson S, Jacobs RF. Community-acquired fungal pneumonia in children.
Semin Respir Infect. 1996 Sep;11(3):196-203.

5: Speed B, Dunt D. Clinical and host differences between infections with
the two varieties of _Cryptococcus neoformans_. Clin Infect Dis. 1995
Jul;21(1):28-34;35-6.

6: Rozenbaum R, Goncalves AJ. Clinical epidemiological study of 171 cases
of cryptococcosis. Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Mar;18(3):369-80. - Mod.MPP]
............................mpp/ds

CW · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Good, keep circulating information of this value. It will slow the population's expansion into one of the most beautiful and scenic areas on the planet. Better to worry about the mold growing inside your Sleep Number Bed's matress.

C.W.

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

Yeah, good idea. I think we've got the same thing down here in the Northern Neck of VA. Only 2 stoplights in the whole county (Northumberland). Don't come here, you might get caught at one of them! Shocked

Charlie

Pat Anderson · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject:

Sounds like the Canadian version of Emmett Watson's Lesser Seattle to me!

Coal Miner · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:42 am Post subject:

journey on

I would not worry about it. Like others have said you would probably get hit by lightning first. This is one of the healthiest places on the planet (especially the west coast of the island) get up here and enjoy. There are alot of incredible places on our west coast and everyone should get up here and see them. The fishing alone is absolutely awesome!!!

Coal Miner · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:52 am Post subject:

This thread is what made me register finally to this site. Vancouver Island is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I have heard of certain this and that that you can get from all over the world. I can tell you now that the only thing you'll get from the West Coast of Vancouver Isand is a wake up call. Nature at it's best, a respect for mother nature, a breath of fresh air, and the raw power of the Pacific Ocean. Pure Beauty is the only way to describe it.