A comparison of fluconazole and ketoconazole in the treatment of rat palatal candidosis.

The efficacy of fluconazole and ketoconazole in the treatment of rat palatal candidosis has been investigated. To induce oral candidosis, the palatal tissues of Wistar rats were inoculated with Candida albicans NCPF 3091 and covered with acrylic plates. The rats were treated with either fluconazole or ketoconazole by intragastric gavage for 14 days. Palatal epithelial thickness, the number of yeasts present and the histopathological appearance of the tissue were assessed to compare treatment with the two azoles. A fluconazole dose of 0.75 mg kg-1 body weight once daily for 14 days was required to cure the palatal candidosis and prevent recrudescence, whereas with ketoconazole a dose of 7.0 mg kg-1 body weight was necessary to achieve the same effect. From these results it is concluded that fluconazole is effective at a dose nine times lower than ketoconazole in resolving rat palatal candidosis.