Cyclophosphamide effect on coccidioidomycosis in the rat

Abstract

SUMMARYCoccidioidomycosis i s a systemic mycosis, endemic i n ari d area s of th e America n continent.The ra t wa s employe d a s a n experimenta l host , sinc e i t ha d bee n show n t o reproduce huma n lesion s an d presen t a chroni c cours e o f diseas e with granuloma s mainly restricte d t o lungs . there wa s greate r funga l sprea d tha n i n control s receivin g C . immitis alone , whic h proved self-limitin g i n th e latter . I n contrast , schedul e C le d t o 559 r mortality , wit h both humora l an d cellula r respons e abrogation, accompanie d b y extensiv e C . immitis dissemination . Histolog y disclose d significant alterations , suc h as the persistenc e of primar y infectio n sporangia , correspondin g t o th e acut e stag e o f coccidioidomycosis i n th e absenc e of granulom a development . Therefore, th e observe d depressio n i n cellula r immunit y seem s responsibl e fo r the lac k o f inflammator y reactio n capabl e o f restrictin g sporangi a proliferatio n i n tissues which , i n turn , enhance s pathogen sprea d an d mortalit y rate .