Histopathology of experimental vaginal candidosis in immunosuppressed mice

The histopathology of vaginal candidosis was studied in cyclophosphamide (CY)‐immunosuppressed mice. In severely leucopenic animals acutely treated with high doses of CY the fungal inoculation resulted in a massive invasion of the pathogen, which penetrated the whole thickness of vaginal wall and was able to spread further into the surrounding tissues. In some animals, a haematogenous dissemination of the infection was detected. In mice chronically treated with lower doses of CY, moderate leucopenia combined with impaired antifungal granulocyte activity and suppressed cellular immunity resulted in the development of only superficial mycotic lesions. Pathogenetic mechanisms of vaginal candidosis in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts are discussed.