[Local production of specific antibodies in the aqueous humor in experimental Candida endophthalmia in rabbits].

An increasing frequency of ocular lesions due to Candida albicans has been reported, but clinical detection of lesions, which may cause permanent blindness, remains difficult. Hematogenous endophthalmitis caused by Candida albicans in the rabbit is a useful model to study the pathogenesis of the disease, and perhaps to find new methods of biological diagnosis. A suspension of Candida albicans was injected in 15 rabbits, according to the method described by Edwards et al. In 1975, causing uni or bilateral chorioretinitis in 12 of them. Unaffected eyes were chosen as controls. After aspiration of the anterior chamber fluid, serum and aqueous humour titres of specific antibodies were determined. A local synthesis of IgG antibodies was detected, after comparison of the titres of specific antibodies in the aqueous humour and in the serum, related to the serum and aqueous humour concentrations of IgG antibodies. According to a formula proposed by Witmer and Desmonts in ocular lesions due to different pathological agents, we calculated the "C" coefficient: C = antibody titres aqueous humor/serum x IgG serum/aqueous humor. A local synthesis of specific antibodies in cases of experimental endophthalmitis leads us to believe that aqueous humour aspiration could be used in the diagnosis of endophthalmitis in humans.