Detection of galactomannan and complement activation in the pregnant mouse during experimental systemic aspergillosis

Foeto-placental infections are obtained when pregnant mice are challenged intravenously with conidial suspensions of Aspergillus fumigatus. This experimental model, which is used without any immuno-suppressive pretreatment, can be employed to screen for differences in foeto-placental infectivity of A. fumigatus strains when the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) in conidial suspensions used for infection is from 1 x 10(5) to 1 x 10(6). In the foeto-placental unit, hyphal growth was initiated at the periphery of the placental disc from which infection spread to the central parts of the placenta, the extrafoetal membranes and the foetus. Complement activation was noticed as a consequence of pregnancy and conidial inoculation, but was neither dose-dependent nor related to the extent of infection. Galactomannan was present in the plasma of infected mice and, in contrast to the situation in bovine placental aspergillosis, can be used as a good marker of foeto-placental aspergillosis.