Experimental infection with Scedosporium inflatum

Abstract

The experimental pathogenicity of Scedosporium inflatum (three isolates) and Scedosporium apiospermum (one strain) was determined following intraperitoneal and intravenous injection into immunosuppressed and normal mice. Immunosuppressed animals were treated with cortisone acetate. The results show that the strains studied displayed positive tropism to kidney and brain. In the histopathological study of the first organ, we initially observed abscesses at the glomerular level and later in the renal pelvis. In the brain, we detected large areas with necrosis, which produced important neurological disorders resulting in convulsive movements and a stiff neck. The isolates of S. inflatum were more virulent (45% mortality) than S. apiospermum (16% mortality). The inoculation method did not significantly affect the mortality rate of the mice by either fungus. In infections caused by S. inflatum the percentage of immunosuppressed mice which died was higher in comparison to that of the untreated group. On the other hand no differences were observed in the mortality of either group animals inoculated with S. apiospermum.