Reproducible method for induction of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in mice

J Infect Dis. 1977 Jan;135(1):117-9. doi: 10.1093/infdis/135.1.117.

Abstract

Intranasal instillation of an inoculum has been suggested as a method for establishment of experimental pulmonary infections. Because we encountered untoward variation in rates and times of death with use of this method for inducing coccidioidomycosis in mice, a simple method for direct intratracheal infection was devised. With doses of 50 or 100 arthrospores of Coccidioides immitis, mortality rates were 80%-90% from 14 to 25 days after infection by the intratracheal route and 20%-60% from 12 to 24 days after infection by the intranasal route. The procedure for intratracheal infection caused only slight morbidity, and the method resulted in consistent rates of disease.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coccidioidomycosis* / etiology
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal* / etiology
  • Mice*
  • Time Factors