Mouse Model of Pulmonary Blastomycosis: Utility, Simplicity, and Quantitative Parameters

摘要: A murine model of pulmonary mycotic disease using Blastomyces dermatitidis is defined quantitatively. Intranasal inoculation with yeasts avoids delays in growing microconidia and can be performed routine precautions without sophisticated biohazard facilities. The particles rapidly reach the bronchioles alveoli, producing a progressive focal pneumonia, studied histologically. In vitro growth conditions are to titer inocula reproducibly visual methods. Median survival titrated challenge inocula. Although initial postchallenge lung cultures not always positive, replication eventually proceeds, at rate for various sizes, ceiling 10(7) 10(8) colony-forming units per g tissue incompatible life. Lung weight correlates closely above threshold. Lethality body age. During course infection, an accurate predictor mortality. Extrapulmonary dissemination occurs as premortem event protracted infections. wide variation fungal strain virulence documented. Quantification these features makes it useful study host response or therapeutic intervention, because efficacy related stage parasitic burden.