Candida albicans migrates itself from the vagina to the uterus and ovaries in estrogenized mice

Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) represents the second cause of vaginal infections in childbearing-age women. It mainly affects the vulva and vagina; however, other organs can be compromised, with consequences that are not well known yet. To evaluate the ability of Candida albicans, inoculated into the vaginal lumen of mice, to migrate to the uterus and ovaries. Female Balb/c mice, 6 weeks old, were estrogenized and infected intravaginally with 1 × 10⁶ CFU/ml of C. albicans for the dual objectives of histopathological evaluation and fungal burden quantification in the vaginal, uterus, and ovary tissues, on days 1, 3, and 5 post-infection. Estrogenized and infected mice presented vaginal exudate and an edematous and erythematous uterus. Vaginal histopathological analysis showed intense desquamation, keratinization, fungal structures, and an inflammatory reaction one day after infection. In the uterus, an inflammatory response and a few fungi from the third day onwards were observed. Similarly, the ovary showed the same changes, but at a lower intensity. A high fungal burden was detected in the vaginal tissue from the first day, reaching nearly 6 log CFU/g on the fifth day. C. albicans inoculated into the vaginal lumen of estrogenized mice was able to invade the vaginal tissue one-day post-infection and was detected in the uterus and ovaries within three days.

Keywords: Animal model; Estradiol; Ovary; Uterus; Vulvovaginal candidiasis.