Experimental murine chromomycosis mimicking chronic progressive human disease.
Congenitally athymic (nu/nu) mice, mice defective in NK cell and macrophage function (bg/bg), and normal BALB/c mice were inoculated sc with 10 conidia of Fonsecaea pedrosoi (FP). In immunologically intact and immunodeficient mice, a local infection developed approximately 2 weeks post-inoculation and enlarged over 1-2 weeks. In bg/bg and normal nu/+ mice, lesions resolved within 5-6 weeks. However, nu/nu mice continued to have enlarging sc lesions during greater than 4-6 months of observation. These eventually metastasized. Lesions contained few hyphal elements and massive numbers of sclerotic bodies. Five weeks after inoculation, 10 conidia forming units/gm of tissue were recovered from lesions. Delayed type hypersensitivity and serum antibody to FP antigens were demonstrated. Adoptive transfer of lymphocytes from nu/+ mice was followed in 2 months by the resolution of the lesions.
Ahrens
J
J
Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans' Hospital, San Antonio, Texas.
Graybill
J R
JR
Abishawl
A
A
Tio
F O
FO
Rinaldi
M G
MG
D000818:Animals; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D002862:Chromoblastomycosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D013997:Time Factors
D000946:Antigens, Fungal