[Experimental Candida albicans chorioretinitis]

The long term (12 months) clinical and histopathological features of experimental chorioretinitis induced by intravenous injection of Candida albicans (5-10 x 10(6) spores) in pigmented rabbits were reported. Nine of 26 animals developed bilateral and 11 of 26 animals unilateral chorioretinal lesions. The lesions were round, yellow-white spots initially growing with a fluffy border, and breaking into the vitreous body. Finally, the lesions became chorioretinal scars with bridging strands in the vitreous body. Histologically, the initial lesions were subretinal microabscesses of pseudoeosinophils with PAS-positive spores, then macrophages invaded and typical granuloma with epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells developed. One year after the inoculation, focal chorioretinal scars with vitreous strands were found.