The
cryptococcal polysaccharide antigen was detected in 10 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 23 serum samples from
cryptococcal meningitis and intestinal
cryptococcosis by the cryptococcal
antigen latex agglutination system (CALAS). CALAS titers in CSF and serum samples of
cryptococcal meningitis ranged over 8-2048 and 32-2048, respectively, while in cases of intestinal
cryptococcosis, serum titers ranged over 8-2048. The isolates of yeast Cryptococcus neoformans were determined to be of serotype A or of the A/D pair. The total leukocyte count and biochemical parameters in CSF were significantly increased as indicators of microbial
infection. Furthermore, the in vitro change of the teleomorph (sexual state) to the anamorph (asexual state) was also detected and the teleomorph state changed in vivo to the encapsulated anamoph state which is more virulent during
infection in vivo than the yeast-like noncapsulated form. Two primers for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of
ribosomal DNA were used for molecular detection of C. neoformans. After PCR amplification,
a DNA band of 415 bp, visualized on
agarose gel, indicated the presence of C. neoformans cells in the tested CSF and serum samples. The primer sensitivity was also characterized using purified yeast chromosomal
DNA as template; it was about 20 pg or more chromosomal
DNA which represents about 10 cells of C. neoformans. The primers were also specific for ITS regions of C. neoformans and gave negative results with Candida albicans and E. coli chromosomal
DNA templates.