title: Experimental infection in gerbils by Conidiobolus lamprauges.
abstract: Conidiobolomycosis is an emerging entomophthoramycosis caused by fungi Conidiobolus spp. Animal models are essential for the study of infectious disease in various areas such as pathogenesis, diagnostic methods, treatment and prevention. There is not currently an animal model for conidiobolomycosis. The aim of this study was to create an experimental infection protocol for Conidiobolus lamprauges in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). The study animals were randomly divided into four groups of four animals: immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide (CPA) and infected with C. lamprauges (G1), immunocompetent and infected with C. lamprauges (G2), immunosuppressed with CPA (G3), and an immunocompetent control group (G4). Clinical signs were observed only in G1 animals, where the mortality rate reached 75% by day 7 after infection (AI) with a median survival of 2 days. C. lamprauges was detected only in G1, both by PCR and by isolation. Necropsies of the G1 animals showed lesions in the nasal cavity and lung tissue. These lesions were characterized by polymorphonuclear infiltrate cells and by the presence of hyphal structures under silver staining. This animal model will be useful for further investigation of diseases caused by C. lamprauges, particularly of those associated with immunosuppression factors in naturally occurring animal infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil. Electronic address: belinhagodoy@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Isabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Godoy
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Gonçalves
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: de Campos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline Argenta
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pescador
authors.affiliation: Residência Uniprofissional em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Vitor Amorim
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Galceran
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stéfhano Luis
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cândido
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nakazato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020092:Conidiobolus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000382:microbiology*; D025301:Hyphae / Q000254:growth & development; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D020096:Zygomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide
keywords: Animal model; Conidiobolus; Experimental infection; Gerbil