Mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis

Abstract

Oropharyngeal candidiasis is a frequent cause of morbidity in patients with defects in cell-mediated immunity or saliva production. Animal models of this infection are important for studying disease pathogenesis and evaluating vaccines and antifungal therapies. Here we describe a simple mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Mice are rendered susceptible to oral infection by injection with cortisone acetate and then inoculated by placing a swab saturated with Candida albicans sublingually. This process results in a reproducible level of infection, the histopathology of which mimics that of pseudomembranous oropharyngeal candidiasis in humans. By using this model, data are obtained after 5-9 d of work.

Figure 1

Histopathology of a typical lesion in the mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis after 5 days of infection. The tissue section was stained with periodic acid-Schiff. Scale bar indicates 20 μm.

Figure 2

Image of an anesthetized mouse with a calcium alginate swab placed sublingually.

Figure 3

Time course of oropharyngeal candidiasis. (A) Oral fungal burden of mice with oropharyngeal candidiasis. (B) Effects of infection on body weight. Results are the median ± interquartile range of 8–9 mice per time point.