In vivo muscle damage during Candida infection.

The concentration of the muscle enzyme creatine phosphokinase increased in the sera of mice during acute, systemic infection with Candida albicans. Elevated serum enzyme levels were first detected 6 h after challenge with C. albicans and continued to rise during the next 6 h as animals became moribund. A linear relationship was demonstrated between the serum creatine phosphokinase concentration and the dose of C. albicans injected. In vivo muscle damage was produced by virulent isolates of C. albicans, C. stellatoidea, and C. tropicalis. Tissue injury was mediated through the elaboration of a factor by metabolically-active C. albicans and was restricted to those sites in which high concentrations of organisms were present.