Comparison ofpathogenicity of fourclades in a neutropenic bloodstream infection murine model.

Abstract

is an emerging worldwide concern, but comparative data about the virulence of differentlineages in mammalian hosts is lacking. Different isolates of the four prevalentclades (South Asian= 5, East Asian= 4, South African= 5, and South American= 5) were compared to assess their virulence in a neutropenic murine bloodstream infection model withas reference., regardless of clade, proved to be less virulent thanHighest overall mortality at day 21 was observed for the South American clade (96%), followed by the South Asian (80%), South African (45%) and East Asian (44%) clades. Fungal burden results showed close correlation with lethality. Histopathological examination revealed large aggregates of blastoconidia and budding yeast cells in the hearts, kidneys and livers but not in the spleens. The myocardium of apparently healthy sacrificed mice as well as of mice found moribund showed contraction band necrosis in case of all lineages. Regardless of clade, the heart and kidneys were the most heavily affected organs. Isolates of the same clade showed differences in virulence in mice, but a markedly higher virulence of the South American clade was clearly demonstrated.