ENDOGENOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS BY FUSARIUM-SOLANI - AN ANIMAL EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL

An experimental model of endophthalmitis by Fusarium solani in immunoc ompetent mice that could be useful for evaluating the efficacy of diff erent treatments and the pathogenicity of the fungus in ocular structu res was established. Five clinical isolates of F. solani were injected into the lateral tail vein of groups of 20 mice, in order to produce systemic infection with ocular infection. Inocula of 5 x 10(6) conidia per mouse were used. The eyes of the animals that died were enucleate d for histopathological study to determine the degree of ocular infect ion. We found fungal infections in 34% of the mice studied. Panophthal mitis was detected in 16 animals, four with bilateral infections. Fung al endophthalmitis can become a severe complication of systemic mycose s by F. solani.