Co-infection of molluscum contagiosum virus and cryptococcosis in the same skin lesion in a HIV-infected patient.

A young human immunodeficiency virus-infected man was admitted in unconsciousness state. Few papular skin lesions resembling molluscum contagiosum (MC) were present on the face. He was found to have cryptococcal meningitis using India ink preparation of cerebrospinal fluid. Histopathological examination of skin lesion revealed the presence of capsulated yeast forms of Cryptococcus within the lesion of MC. The co-existence of MC and cryptococcosis in the same cutaneous lesion is rare, and it could be because of immunosuppression (low CD4 count). Copyright Blackwell Munksgaard 2008.