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Persistence and spread of Candida albicans after intragastric inoculation of infant mice
Abstract:
Infant mice have been shown previously to be a useful model for the study of gastrointestinal (GI) and systemic candidosis. In this study, the virulence of four strains of Candida albicans was compared in intragastrically inoculated infants and in adult mice inoculated intravenously. The four strains differed in their ability to kill both infant and adult mice. A smaller inoculum was required to kill adult mice inoculated intravenously. Neonates could not be inoculated intravenously. The ability of the strains to spread systemically from and to persist for long periods of time in the digestive tract was also examined in intragastrically inoculated infants. The yeast cells spread to liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen within 30 min postinoculation. Yeast were not detectable in the lungs or in blood from the pleural cavity up to 15 min post-inoculation, thus making it unlikely that systemic spread resulted from faulty inoculation or from aspiration. The region where C. albicans crossed the GI tract of infant mice was visualized histologically in the upper third of the small intestine. The four strains varied in their ability to persist for long periods in the GI tract, in the rate at which they appeared systemically, and in ability to kill infant mice. Three of the four strains colonized the gut for up to 10 weeks postinoculation without use of any compromising agents.
Insights
This study compared Candida albicans strains in infant and adult mice, finding significant differences in virulence and systemic spread. Infant mice effectively model gastrointestinal candidosis, with yeast crossing the gut barrier in the small intestine.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Mycology
Background:
- Infant mice are a valuable model for studying gastrointestinal (GI) and systemic candidosis.
- Candida albicans is a common opportunistic fungal pathogen.
- Understanding strain-specific virulence is crucial for disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the virulence of four Candida albicans strains in infant and adult mice.
- To investigate systemic spread and gastrointestinal persistence of C. albicans in infant mice.
- To identify the route of GI tract penetration by C. albicans in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Intragastric inoculation of infant mice and intravenous inoculation of adult mice with four C. albicans strains.
- Monitoring of mortality rates and systemic dissemination to organs (liver, lungs, kidneys, spleen).
- Histological examination to visualize C. albicans translocation across the GI tract in infant mice.
Main Results:
- All four C. albicans strains exhibited varying virulence in both infant and adult mice.
- Adult mice required smaller inoculums for lethal infection via intravenous inoculation.
- Yeast disseminated systemically within 30 minutes post-inoculation in infant mice, primarily crossing the GI barrier in the upper small intestine.
- Three strains demonstrated long-term GI tract colonization (up to 10 weeks) in infant mice without predisposing factors.
Conclusions:
- Strain-dependent differences in virulence, systemic spread, and GI persistence of C. albicans were confirmed.
- The infant mouse model is suitable for studying GI candidosis, demonstrating systemic spread and prolonged gut colonization.
- C. albicans translocation from the GI tract occurs in the upper small intestine of infant mice.