Cryptococcosis in captive cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): two cases

Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeast-like organism associated with pulmonary, meningoencephalitic, or systemic disease. This case report documents 2 cas es of cryptococcosis with central nervous system involvement in captive che etah (Acinonyx jubatus). In both cases the predominant post mortal lesions were pulmonary cryptococcomas and extensive meningo encephalomyelitis. Both cheetahs tested negative for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leuk aemia virus. The organism isolated in Case 2 was classified as Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii, which is mainly associated with disease in immunoc ompetent hosts.