Comparative virulence of Candida albicans strains in CFW1 mice and Sprague-Dawley rats

To verify host-species specificities of virulence of Candida albicans in experimental systemic mycoses, 10 ATCC strains of Candida albicans, were compared for their virulence in CFW1 mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. Virulence was parallel in mice and rats, four strains were avirulent (ATCC 10231, 18804, 38245, 44831), one strain had an intermediate virulence (ATCC 32354), and five strains (ATCC 10261, 44373, 44505, 62342, 90028) were highly virulent in both host species. Infection doses of 2 x 10(6) CFU per mouse and 5 x 10(6) CFU per rat were comparable with respect to mortality of animals within 10 days; this represents a 4 : 1 ratio on the basis of body weight. In Sprague-Dawley rats haemorrhage occurred in infections with all virulent strains which was not observed in CFW1 mice.