A MODEL OF COCCIDIOIDAL MENINGOENCEPHALITIS AND CEREBROSPINAL VASCULITIS IN THE RABBIT

Coccidioidal meningitis is a devastating complication of disseminated coccidioidomycosis. An animal model of this infection could enhance un derstanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and lead to improvement s in therapy. A rabbit model of central nervous system infection simul ating human disease was established using a blind cisternal tap techni que to inoculate 4 X 10(3)-1 X 10(6) arthroconidia of Coccidioides imm itis into the cisterna magna, Systemic, neurologic, and histopathologi c findings of meningitis were observed in all rabbits, but an inoculum of 2 X 10(4) arthroconidia produced a chronic illness in which mening eal endarteritis obliterans was consistently observed, Serial sampling of cerebrospinal fluid demonstrated an inflammatory response. Growth of C. immitis was demonstrated by quantitative fungal culture from bra ins and proximal spinal cords.