ISSN:
1573-0832
Keywords:
bronchoalveolar lavage
;
paracoccidioidomycosis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Adult Swiss (susceptible) and BALB/c (non-susceptible) mice were inoculated by the intravenous route with 1 × 106 yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, strain 18. Immunologic parameters, histopathology and features of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were evaluated at week 2, 4, 8 and 16 post-infection. The pulmonary infection was progressive in Swiss mice and regressive in BALB/c mice. The numbers of total cells, lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils increased in BAL, as well as the percentages of giant cells, and CD4 and CD8 positive cells. The ultrastructural study of BAL cells revealed a predominance of macrophages and a frequency of 13.2% of type II pneumocytes. As the infection progressed, the number of fungal cells and spreading macrophages, as well as the stimulated release of H2O2 by macrophages, increased. The animals exhibited an exacerbation of the humoral immune response and a depression of cellular immunity during the infection. There was a good correlation between the intensity and the pattern of the pulmonary histopathology and the cellular findings in the BAL. The present model reproduces some anatomoclinical patterns of the human disease and shows that BAL may be a useful tool in monitoring the pulmonary infection caused by P. brasiliensis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006987205848
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