Abstract: Objective To evaluate the viability of Cryptococcus in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cryptococcal meningitis.Methods Electron microscopy,animal inocul ation and neutral red staining of the cere-brospinal fluid specimens were empl oyed.Results Transmission electron microscopy revealed intact cells and budding cells of cryptococcus which appeared frequently during the early treatment.Edema of cytoplasm and disar-rangement of structure of capsule were often found during the later therapy.All mice inoculated experimentally with the cerebrospinal fluid specimens were positive on direct examination but negative in routine culture were infected.A definite number of deep blood-red fungal cells were observed in many specimens.Conclusion These findings add a new approach for dynamic studying of the viability of Cryptococcus in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Crypto-coccal meningitis and provide an important parameter for evaluating therapeutic effect.

Key words: Meningitis,Cryptococcal, Cryptococcus