CRYPTOCOCCOSIS IN A COMMON ANACONDA (EUNECTES MURINUS)

Systemic cryptococcosis was diagnosed in a common anaconda (Eunectes m urinus) that died after a 2.5-mo history of progressive neurologic dis ease. Pathologic examination revealed granulomatous pneumonia and meni ngoencephalitis associated with yeast organisms morphologically consis tent with Cryptococcus. Cryptococcus neoformans was confirmed as the e tiologic agent using a specific fluorescent antibody test for this pat hogenic yeast. This is the first reported case of C. neoformans infect ion in a poikilothermic host.