A multi-infection model for antifungal screening in vivo

A new in-vivo antifungal screen is described in which each mouse is given a vaginal infection with Candida albicans, a dermal infection with Trichophyton quinckeanum, a systemic infection with Can. albicans and a lung infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. Mice are dosed orally once daily on days 0-3 and infections evaluated on day 6 by visually scoring the dermal lesions and by culturing vaginal samples and kidney and lung homogenates. Mice carrying the multiple infections show no signs of distress at this time. Validation studies with eight antifungal agents show there is no interference between the four infections, and illustrate the different patterns of activity which result from differences in innate sensitivity and pharmacological behaviour of drugs in the host. This screen provides the maximum amount of information for a minimal investment of compound and effort, and naturally uses fewer animals than multiple tests using single infections.