[Estimation of infection by Aspergillus fumigatus in mice infected experimentally by the respiratory route].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate a new chitin detection technique for the quantification of Aspergillus fumigatus infection in organs from air-borne infected mice.


METHODS
Different groups of mice were air-borne infected with A. fumigatus spores. The mortality rate was studied as well as the extension of the infection by means of colony counts (UFC) and quantification of chitin .


RESULTS
The inhalation of A. fumigatus spores by non-immunosuppressed mice produces a 34% mortality rate, with an initial invasion of lung tissue followed by the spleen, kidneys, heart and liver thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
The quantification of chitin in involved organs allowed us to estimate the degree of organ-specific fungal infections and perhaps could be an useful method for studying the pathogenesis of A. fumigatus infections.
Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao.
A
A
Jáuregui
M L
ML
Martínez Palacios
I
I
Arnaiz
J
J
Pontón
R
R
Cisterna
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D002686:Chitin / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013172:Spores, Fungal; D014781:Viscera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology
D002686:Chitin
Estimación de la infección por Aspergillus fumigatus en ratones infectados experimentalmente por vía respiratoria.