Candidiasis In Rats Research Articles

Immunity to experimental renal candidiasis in rats

Germfree rats were found to be more susceptible to intravenous challenge with Candida albicans than were conventional rats. The resistance of conventional rats could be overcome by increasing the challenge dose. The resistance of the germfree rat was enhanced by vaccination with Formalin-killed C. albicans in complete Freund adjuvant, complete Freund adjuvant, or incomplete Freund adjuvant. These results, and histological evidence obtained from infected gnotobiotic rats, provided further information on the mechanism of resistance to the disseminated form of candidiasis.

Gastrointestinal candidiasis in rats treated with antibiotics, cortisone, and azathioprine

Conventional albino rats treated with peroral chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and/or parenteral cortisone were challenged with Candida albicans Antibiotics and cortisone were equally effective in predisposing the animals to colonization by the fungus. All animals treated with both antibiotics and cortisone developed defined, focal, superficial invasion of the cornified squamous epithelium of the stomach next to its junction with the glandular mucosa, as well as focal superficial invasion of the esophagus. Equivalent yeast cell and mycelial inocula of C. albicans were equally effective in producing colonization and invasion of the gut. Dissemination of the fungus from the gut was not found even after the addition of azathioprine to the treatment regimen; however, such addition did predispose to more extensive and severe lesions of the esophagus and stomach. Approximately 25% of infected cortisone- and antibiotic-treated rats developed agglutinins against C. albicans by 22 to 23 days after challenge, whereas 15% developed precipitins. The antibiotic-cortisone-treated rat may be a useful and consistent experimental model in the study of gastrointestinal candidiasis.