Abstract
The experimental injection of Aspergillus fumigatus in mice was examined by intravenous inoculation at doses of 5×106 and 107 viable spores. The viable organisms were detected in the kidney and brain ten days after challenge and secretion of Asp-hemolysin from the mycelia was actually observed immunohistochemically in the tissues using a technique of indirect enzyme labeled antibody (peroxidase binding IgG antibody).
With the simultaneous administration of Asp-hemolysin and the organism, the toxin was shown to be a virulent factor in A. fumigatus infection. On the other hand, pretreatment with antitoxin IgG-antibody exhibited greater protective effect against A. fumigatus invasion than did IgM antibody.
In histopathological aspects, lesions of various degrees were observed in the kidney, heart, liver and brain of mice injected with the hemolytic toxin from A. fumigatus. The toxin was definitely bound to arterial walls in the kidney and brain. Intraperitoneal injection caused an increase in capillary permeability, and the toxin showed higher cytotoxicity to human leukocytes and guinea pig alveolar macrophages in vitro.
