Abstract:ObjectiveTo establish a biological model of systemic infection in immunosuppressed BALB/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of Candida albicans(C. albicans), and provide animal model for studying the pathogenesis of C. albicans infection and pharmacodynamics of antifungal agents.MethodsC. albicans infection model of immunosuppressed BALB/c mice (intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg·d for consecutive 2 days) was established through intraperitoneal injection of 0.25 mL virulenceenhanced strain of C. albicans (concentration: 1×107 CFU/mL). Vein blood of mice tail was taken for detecting white blood cell count and neutrophil count, mice tissue were collected for microscopic fungal examination, culture, pathological examination, and (1, 3)βDglucan detection.ResultsThere were significant differences in white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and average body weight between immunosuppressive group and control group on the 4th day after treatment(all P<0.05). The survival rate of C. albicans infection group and control group were 30.00% and 100.00% respectively, difference between two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Dissection of mice which died on day 2-14 and survival mice on day 14 after injection of C. albicans found that there were multiple abscess in lung, liver, and kidney tissue, especially kidney infection; a large number of fungal mycelia could be seen by direct microscopic examination of mice tissue, C. albicans was found through tissue culture, histopathology examination showed a large number of mycelia, inflammatory cells and tissue necrosis. The levels of (1,3)βDglucan in lung and kidney tissue of C. albicans infection group were both significantly higher than those of control group (both P<0.05).ConclusionAnimal model of systemic C. albicans infection in immunosuppressed BALB/c mice can be successfully established by this method.