Detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Meningitis Patients Associated with HIV/AIDS in Uganda

The significance of Cryptococcus var. neoformans meningitis fatality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients was confirmed in ten cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) from Entebbe hospitals in Uganda. All ten CSF specimens were turbid, but on centrifugation, their supernatants were clear and colourless. The protein content of the specimens ranged from 20 to 50mg per 100ml of CSF (normal range is 10 to 40mg/100ml). Sugar content ranged between 20 to 60mg per 100ml CFS (normal range 45 to 72mg/100ml). The white blood cell (WBC) counts in the ten specimens ranged from 15 to 40 WBC/mm^3 of CSF (normal range up to 5 WBC/mm^3). Gram stain on the deposits, showed capsulated Cryptococcus (Cr.) neoformans var. neoformans which were further demonstrated in Odongo-Aginya stain using 5% eosin in 10% formalin mixed in equal volume with 7.5% nigrosin in 10% formalin (Odongo-Aginya et al., 1995). Ziehl Neelsen stain on the deposits, for acid alcohol fast bacilli was negative. Cr. neoformans var. neoformans were isolated from all CSF specimens and all patients investigated, died within one week from the time of admission to the hospitals