Development of murine models of disseminated infection by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum.

We have developed two murine models of disseminated infections by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, an emerging dematiaceous fungus. Immunosuppressed mice were challenged through the lateral tail vein with 1 x 10(5) or 1 x 10(6) CFU/ml and immunocompetent animals with 1 x 10(6) or 1 x 10(7) CFU/ml. N. dimidiatum var. dimidiatum was more virulent than the nonpigmented variety, N. dimidiatum var. hyalinum. All mice infected with N. dimidiatum var. dimidiatum died within 8 days while those infected with N. dimidiatum var. hyalinum survived to the end of the experiment. Fungal load in tissue was also higher in animals inoculated with N. dimidiatum var. dimidiatum. In general, of the five organs tested, spleens and kidneys were most affected.