Biochemical and pathological changes in experimental phycomycosis.

Intravenous inoculation of rabbits with spores of Absidia corymbifera strain V.73/8 produced acute phycomycosis and death within 2 to 10 days. Cultural and microscopical examination showed that fungal infection was widespread and involved most organ systems but with particularly extensive lesions developing in the kidneys. The progress of the infection was associated with a raised leucocyte count, an increasing erythrocyte sedimentation rate and significant changes in serum biochemistry. The latter included a decrease in serum iron, zinc, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase concentrations but an increase in the synthesis of acute phase proteins and in the phenylalanine:tyrosine ratio and in serum concentrations of copper, magnesium, potassium, lactate dehydrogenase and triglycerides. The serum urea concentration increased substantially during the terminal phase of infection.