title: Efficacy of voriconazole in a murine model of cryptococcal central nervous system infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the efficacy of voriconazole compared with amphotericin B in a murine model of central nervous system infection by Cryptococcus neoformans. Infection was established intracerebrally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were treated with voriconazole at 10, 40 or 60 mg/kg/day orally or with amphotericin B at 1.5 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally. Treatment began 1 day after infection and continued for 10 days post-infection. Tissue burden studies were performed on day 7 and 1 day after the treatment finished.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both drugs were able to significantly prolong survival with respect to the control group. The highest tissue burden reduction was achieved with voriconazole at 60 mg/kg/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed a murine model of cryptococcal central nervous system infection and demonstrated that voriconazole has a potential for the treatment of cryptococcosis.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Microbiologia, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serena
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Marçal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariné
authors.forename: M Mar
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guarro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology; D020314:Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065819:Voriconazole
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D065819:Voriconazole