Endogenous Candida albicans Endophthalmitis in the Rabbit

Progressive endogenous Candida albicans endophthalmitis was established in rabbits by intravenous (IV) injection of blastospores (2.0 to 5.0 x 10/kg). Severity of infection was directly related to the strain and inoculum size. Intravenous amphotericin B (1.0 mg/kg/day), IV amphotericin B methyl ester ascorbate (5.0 mg/kg/day), and oral ketoconazole (80 mg/kg/day) effectively prevented or reduced the severity of infection when therapy was initiated 24 hours following inoculation of blastospores and continued for five to seven days. Intravenous miconazole (30 mg/kg/day) was ineffective in this model. Intravenous amphotericin B(1.0 to 2.0 mg/kg on alternate days), IV amphotericin B methyl ester ascorbate (5.0 mg/kg/day), and oral ketoconazole (80 mg/kg/day reduced the severity of C albicans endophthalmitis when therapy was initiated seven days following injection of blastospores and continued for 28 days. Oral flucytosine (75 and 150 mg/kg/day in four doses) produced uniformly fatal hepatic necrosis in uninfected rabbits.