The Cryptococcosis is known as a very rare disease in Korea and no clinical case has been reported as yet.
The author isolated two strains of Cryptococcus neoformans from patients during a two month period, from October 1959 to December 1959, in Yonsei University Severance Hospital. The sources for the isolation were the spinal fluids of the two pediatric patients, 3 yr. 2 mon. old male and 4 yr- 8 mon.oldmale, both having the signs of meningitis such as headache, nausea and vomiting.
Through the following morphological characteristics, biological properties and virulence tests, the organisms were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans.
1. In wet mount of the centrifuged specimens, large, spherical budding cells measuring 2 to 7 microns in diameter were found. In India ink preparation with the specimens, it was also observed that the cells were enclosed in wide capsules
2. Culture were made on Sabouraud´s glucose agar, Littman oxgal agar and blood agar, on that gray-white, glistening, smooth and mucoid colonies were formed after 48 hours incubation both at 37°c and at room temperature
3 Neither mycelium on Sabouraud´s glucose agar nor pseudo mycelium on corn meal agar were produced over 7 days cultivations at room temperature
4- The virulence tests to mice with the organisms revealed as highly pathogenic
5. Of the fermentation tests of sugars, the organisms were fermented glucose, maltose, sucrose and galactose, but gas were not produced.
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