| Abstrakt: |
The dissemination of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis cells to the heart, omentum/pancreas, spleen, liver and lungs, assessed by colony forming unit (CFU) counts, the levels of specific antibodies to this fungal agent (by ELISA), and the specific DTH reaction were studied in susceptible (BIO.A) and resistant (A/Sn) mice. The animals were infected intraperitoneally with P. brasiliensis yeast cells and were evaluated 2, 4, 12 and 16 weeks later. The most remarkable differences between the two mouse strains were observed 16 weeks after infection, when BIO.A mice displayed high numbers of CFU in all examined organs, except the heart, high antibody titres, and depressed DTH response. At this point. A/Sn mice presented low or absent CFU in all organs, low antibody titres and expressive DTH response. The CFU counts were shown to be a reliable parameter to discriminate susceptible from resistant animals. The fungal load in the most affected organs correlated with the antibody titres and was inversely correlated with the intensity of the DTH reaction. The patterns of immune response in this model mimie human paracoccidioidomycosis, in which high specific antibody levels and depressed DTH reactions are found in multifocal and severe forms of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
