Cerebral mucormycosis in diabetic mice after intrasinus challenge

Rhinocerebral involvement is the most common form of mucormycosis in uncontrolled diabetic patients. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic and normal mice were challenged by intrasinus inoculation of Rhizopus oryzae to determine their susceptibility to infection by this route. Ninety percent of diabetic mice and no normal mice died after inoculation with 10(6) spores. Intrasinus inoculations caused minimal direct trauma and low levels of brain inocula, but progressive cerebral infections were induced in diabetic mice.