Evaluation of in vivo pathogenicity of Candida parapsilosis, Candida orthopsilosis, and Candida metapsilosis with different enzymatic profiles in a murine model of disseminated candidiasis

Abstract

Six isolates of the Candida parapsilosis complex with different enzymatic profiles were used to induce systemic infection in immunocompetent BALB/c mice. Fungal tissue burden was determined on days 2, 5, 10, and 15 post challenge. The highest fungal load irrespective of post-infection day was detected in the kidney, followed by the spleen, lung,andliver,withatendencyforthefungalburdentodecreasebyday15inallgroups. Significant differences among the strains were not detected, suggesting that the three species of the “psilosis” group possess a similar pathogenic potential in disseminated candidiasis regardless of their enzymatic profiles