Related Experiment Videos
Experimental candidosis in pregnant mice
1Department of Pharmacology and Pathobiology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
APMIS : Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica, Et Immunologica Scandinavica
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Candida albicans can infect the placenta in pregnant mice, spreading from the placental disc to fetal tissues. This fungal infection pattern in pregnancy mirrors previous findings with Aspergillus fumigatus.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Immunology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Fungal infections during pregnancy pose risks to both mother and fetus.
- Candida albicans is a common opportunistic fungal pathogen.
- Understanding fungal dissemination in pregnancy is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the placental localization and dissemination patterns of Candida albicans in pregnant mice.
- To compare the pathogenic behavior of Candida albicans with Aspergillus fumigatus in a murine pregnancy model.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous inoculation of pregnant mice with varying doses of Candida albicans blastospores.
- Postmortem histopathological examination of the fetoplacental units to assess fungal distribution and tissue damage.
Main Results:
- Candida albicans demonstrated a propensity for localization within the murine placenta.
- At high doses, fungi were randomly distributed; at lower doses, proliferation initiated at the placental disc rim and spread to fetal tissues.
- Infection progression involved Reichert's membrane, splanchnopleure, and ultimately fetal skin.
Conclusions:
- Candida albicans infection in pregnant mice follows a predictable pattern of placental invasion and spread.
- The observed infection dynamics are comparable to those of Aspergillus fumigatus in a similar model.
- These findings highlight the potential for Candida albicans to cause significant pathology in the fetoplacental unit during pregnancy.