Recent statistical survey of visceral aspergillosis in Japan, and experimental studies on the pathogenicity of Aspergillus fumigatus in rabbits.

A statistical survey of visceral aspergillosis in Japanese pathological autopsies (1972-1981) was carried out. It was found that the infection has increased remarkably in recent years, and the results obtained were briefly described. Pathogenicity of several strains of Aspergillus fumigatus in rabbits was studied on three occasions in the past 31 years. The pathogenicity appeared to be unchanged even after long subcultures for 13 years, while lowered pathogenicity was noted with long-term subcultures over 30 years. However, the lowered pathogenicity of the fungus seemed to be recovered by animal passage.