Experimental Absidia corymbifera infection in rabbits: sequential pathological studies

Intravenous inoculation of young rabbits with 1.4 x 10(5) spores ml-1 of Absidia corymbifera produced gross and microscopic changes principally in the kidneys. Grossly, there was congestion, haemorrhages and greyish-white necrotic foci giving a mottled appearance to the kidneys. Microscopically, besides congestion and haemorrhages, there was a granulomatous reaction characterized by a central necrotic mass containing mycelium surrounded by a reactive zone of neutrophils, lymphocytes, a few macrophages and giant cells. Fibrous tissue proliferation was also present. Characteristic dichotomously branched non-septate fungal hyphae could be demonstrated in the sections of kidneys up to 14 days of infection. In one rabbit, which had died on the 8th day, small granulomatous lesions with fungal hyphae were noticed in the liver's parenchyma.