Conclusion
Pathogenic members of both Cryptococcus species complexes are capable of causing different clinical diseases in a wide range of living organisms worldwide, including domestic and experimental animals, as well as wildlife.
Only experimental infection has been documented in invertebrates and fishes.The C. neoformans species complex has a global distribution but is particularly prevalent in southeastern and Western Australia, British Columbia in Canada, and the West Coast of the USA. The C. gattii species complex appears to be present in hotspots around the world; recent outbreaks have been reported in the Pacific Northwest USA and British Columbia. The complete prevention of exposure might be impossible to achieve, although in some circumstances, it may be possible to decrease the level of exposure from certain environmental sources. Species other than C. neoformans and C. gattii have only rarely been reported to affect animals.
Despite similarities, the clinical manifestations of cryptococcosis in animals differ from those in humans. Animals and humans might be infected from the same environmental source. To date, mammal-to-mammal transmission has not been documented. Household rodents may also serve as natural reservoirs and source of infection for humans and their pets.
Conflict of Interests The work of Seyedmojtaba Seyedmousavi was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, NIAID.