Posaconazole prophylaxis in experimental systemic zygomycosis

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Zygomycosis is a severe fungal infection, often fatal in immunocompromised individuals.
• Neutropenic mice are a relevant model for studying invasive fungal infections.
• Limited treatment options exist for zygomycosis, necessitating research into new antifungal agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of posaconazole (POS) and amphotericin B (AMB) in treating systemic zygomycosis in a murine model.
• To compare the effects of POS and AMB on survival rates, organ burden, and histological manifestations of infection.
• To assess the prophylactic potential of POS against zygomycosis.

Main Methods:

• Systemic infection was induced in neutropenic mice using Rhizopus oryzae and Absidia corymbifera isolates.
• Mice were treated with varying doses of POS or a standard dose of AMB prior to infection.
• Efficacy was assessed by survival, organ culture, and histological examination of infection foci in brain and kidney tissues.

Main Results:

• Both AMB and POS significantly prolonged survival in infected mice.
• POS demonstrated a potential prophylactic effect, reducing infection severity in mice challenged with A. corymbifera.
• Both drugs reduced the number and size of infection foci in kidneys infected with R. oryzae and in both tissues infected with A. corymbifera.

Conclusions:

• Posaconazole exhibits therapeutic and prophylactic potential against zygomycosis caused by R. oryzae and A. corymbifera in a murine model.
• Amphotericin B remains a highly effective treatment for systemic zygomycosis.
• Further clinical investigation of POS for zygomycosis prophylaxis is warranted.