title: Experimental systemic virulence of oral Candida dubliniensis isolates in comparison with Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei.
abstract: There are no previous studies on the comparative virulence of Candida dubliniensis with other non-albicans species. The aim of this study was to compare the virulence and infection kinetics of C. dubliniensis and other species. Candida albicans, C. dubliniensis, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei (reference strains) were inoculated intravenously in mice. For infection kinetics evaluation, a group of five animals were sacrificed after 6 h, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days. Microbiological evaluations (liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs and brain) and histopathological examination of the kidney were performed. The results of virulence evaluation were analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (5%). Candida dubliniensis-inoculated mice survived for longer periods compared with those with C. albicans (P = 0.005). No differences were detected in relation to C. tropicalis (P = 0.326) and C. krusei (P = 0.317). Most of the organs were persistently colonised by C. albicans and C. dubliniensis even by day 21. Tendency of C. krusei clearance was observed in all organs. Fungal masses and renal lesions were observed after inoculation of C. albicans, C. dubliniensis and C. tropicalis. Within the limits of the study, data on survival rate and dissemination capacity suggest that C. dubliniensis is less virulent than C. albicans.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Oral Biosciences and Diagnosis, São José dos Campos Dental School, Univ. Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José dos Campos - SP, Brazil. cristiane@fosjc.unesp.br
authors.forename: Cristiane Yumi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Koga-Ito
authors.forename: Edson Yukio
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Komiyama
authors.forename: Clélia Aparecida de Paiva
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Thássia Castro
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.forename: Antonio Olavo Cardoso
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Yasmin Rodarte
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Renata Falchete
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: do Prado
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balducci
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D058387:Candidemia / Q000382:microbiology*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000382:microbiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014774:Virulence