Abstract
Host defenses against Cryptococcus neoformans and Sporothrix schenckii infections were studied using congenitally athymic nude mice, their heterozygous littermates and ddY mice. In addition, effect of splenectomy upon these fungal infections is studied.
In conclusion, mononuclear cells activated with T-lymphocytes played a leading role as the defense mechanisms of mice against these fungal infections. Concerning the effect of splenectomy, yeast cells of S. schenckii began to be destroyed in the splenectomized mice approximately 5 days earlier than in the intact or sham-operated mice. On the other hand, in the mice inoculated with Cr. neoformans there was a delay of approximately 5 days in the killing functions of the granuloma in the liver of the splenectomized mice compared to the intact or sham-operated mice.
