A novel model of cutaneous candidiasis produced in prednisolone-treated guinea-pigs.

In an attempt to develop an animal model of cutaneous candidiasis useful for the pre-clinical evaluation of antifungal drugs, experimental cutaneous Candida albicans infections were produced in mature and immature guinea-pigs treated with prednisolone. The morbidity of this model in terms of the extent and the duration of the superficial infection was compared with that of two other reported models: those produced by alloxan treatment, or the use of occlusive dressings. Infected animals were also included which received neither of these treatments. The Candida infection continued steadily for 14 days or more in both mature and immature animal groups treated subcutaneously with prednisolone and appeared to be more suitable than that produced with alloxan treatment or under occlusive dressings. In prednisolone-induced infection, most of the micro-organisms were confined to the epidermis and there was no evidence of their dermal penetration during the 14 day experimental period. In view of these facts, we attempted a more quantitative method by counting viable Candida in order to evaluate antimycotics in a shorter therapy period during which animals would receive less exposure to the vehicle. These findings appear to indicate that the experimental model of cutaneous C. albicans infection produced in prednisolone-treated mature and immature guinea-pigs would be useful for studies on the therapeutic efficacy of antifungal agents against cutaneous candidiasis.