In vivo determination of phagocytic indices and candidacidal activities of Candida species by rat peritoneal macrophages.

A possible correlation between pathogenesis and phagocytosis is established through comparison of the kinetics of the ingestion of nine Candida species by rat peritoneal macrophages in the early stages of infection. After 3 h of intraperitoneal injection of 6.10(8) yeasts to Sprague-Dawley rats, the phagocytic indices, candidacidal activity and the fate of the yeasts are assayed. Phagocytic indices allow separation of the species into four groups. Candidacidal activity and phagocytic indices are coincidently smaller in the more pathogenic species. Common events occur with the species assayed. All the yeasts can be isolated from blood, spleen and kidneys from the first h, whilst invasion to liver occurs from the second h post-infection.