Endogenous endophthalmitis by Fusarium solani: an animal experimental model.

An experimental model of endophthalmitis by Fusarium solani in immunocompetent mice that could be useful for evaluating the efficacy of different treatments and the pathogenicity of the fungus in ocular structures was established. Five clinical isolates of F. solani were injected into the lateral tail vein of groups of 20 mice, in order to produce systemic infection with ocular infection. Inocula of 5 x 10(6) conidia per mouse were used. The eyes of the animals that died were enucleated for histopathological study to determine the degree of ocular infection. We found fungal infections in 34% of the mice studied. Panophthalmitis was detected in 16 animals, four with bilateral infections. Fungal endophthalmitis can become a severe complication of systemic mycoses by F. solani.