Measurement of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in an experimental model of systemic candidiasis.

To investigate the utility of measuring blood concentrations of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a component of the fungal cell wall, as an auxiliary diagnostic method for systemic candidiasis, rats were inoculated with Candida albicans and the number of C. albicans in the viscera and glucan in the blood were quantitated. The concentration of blood glucan and the number of C. albicans in the viscera were also measured both under leukopenia and with deteriorated reticuloendothelial system cell function, and when the liver and spleen had been excised. As a result, systemic candidiasis appeared in the group with leukopenia, and the number of living C. albicans increased in the kidney and liver. Together with this increase in the number of C. albicans, there was an increase in blood (1--> 3)-beta-D-glucan. Measurements of blood (1--> 3)-beta-D-glucan well reflect a proliferation of C. albicans in vivo, which would make this a useful auxiliary for the clinical diagnosis of systemic mycosis.