Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is regarded as an important public health issue, and several aspects of its pathogenesis are not yet sufficiently clear. Experimental in vivo models of vaginal infection with Candida albicans have been extremely useful in the identification of factors concerning hormonal influences on the infection, the virulence of the yeasts, the susceptibility, and the treatment of the infection. The development of easily manageable, reproducible, and economically viable animal models of VVC is highly important. We describe a simple experimental model of VVC in rats, using a pharmaceutical brand of estradiol hexa-hydrobenzoate for human treatment. All the steps of this model were standardized; and after the experiments, the rats were euthanized for further examination of their tissues by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Standardized features included the use of non-ovariectomized rats, sterile distilled water as the hormone vehicle, estradiol hexa-hydrobenzoate administered at 0.20 mg/week/rat fractionated three times/week, and a yeast suspension of 5 × 10(8) yeasts/ml in a single vaginal administration 1 week after hormone induction. In this way, 100% of the rats were in pseudo-estrus and developed and maintained the infection until the third week of the experiment. Electron microscopy observation of the vagina of the rats confirmed the presence of both pseudo-estrus and vaginal infection. The standardized experimental model proved inexpensive, reproducible, and easily feasible for the induction of vaginal infection with C. albicans and may help to clarify important aspects of the pathogenesis and treatment of VVC.

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis constitutes a heterogeneous group of syndromes, characterized by non-invasive infection of the skin, nails and mucosal membranes by the fungus Candida spp. Although symptoms are heterogeneous, in all cases there is a reduction in protective cytokines, favouring the development of disease. The normal role of cytokines in skin lesions is not well understood. The present study aimed to investigate the progression of disease, understand specific cellular and molecular components involved in immunity to Candida albicans and determine the balance between pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines over the course of cutaneous infection in immunocompetent mice. BALB/c mice (five per group) were inoculated with 5610 6 C. albicans pseudohyphae in the deep dermis of the paw and analysed over 1-14 days post-infection. The contralateral paws were used for negative controls. Haematoxylin and eosin staining of skin sections during C. albicans infection was performed to analyse structural modifications to the epidermis such as hyperplasia, and infiltration of neutrophils and fibroblasts in the dermis. The cytokine populations were determined by capture ELISA using popliteal lymph node tissue. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected at significant levels during the initial phase of cutaneous infection and correlated with the rapid elimination of C. albicans. Anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-13, IL-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor-b) were detected on day 4 post-infection, and prevented exacerbation of inflammation and participated in healing of lesions. Thus, a balance between pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines was fundamental for the resolution of infection. Importantly, these findings broaden our understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in chronic cutaneous candidiasis. INTRODUCTIONCandida albicans is a commensal organism found on human skin and in mucous membranes, and causes candidiasis only if the normal host-pathogen balance is disrupted. Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis is caused by the selective inability of a patient to clear a Candida infection, resulting in persistent debilitating inflammation of the skin, nails and mucous membranes (Kirkpatrick, 2001). A variety of clinical conditions that impair immune function, such as infection by human immunodeficiency virus or the use of corticosteroids, favour the development of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis; the disease may also be associated with endocrinopathies or genetic defects in the immune system (Chehimi et al., 2001;Collins et al., 2006).A more critical parameter in the pathogenesis of chronic cutaneous candidiasis might be the cytokine secretion of T-cell subtypes. Numerous studies have described altered cytokine production with reduced production of type 1 cytokines, such as IFN-c, IL-12 and IL-2, and increased secretion of IL-10 or IL-4 and IL-5 (Kobrynski et al., 1996;Lilic et al., 2003;van der Graaf et al., 2003;Eyerich et al., 2007). In T-helper 1 (Th1) responses, IL-12 and IFN-c production are essential for contro...

With the results obtained, it was noticed that the socio-economical level does not seem to influence the epidemiology of the Candida sp. and pointed to a balance in terms of numbers of this agent in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.

These findings highlight some important changes in diabetic animal responses to C. albicans infection that may be important to the pathophysiological processes underpinning cutaneous candidiasis in diabetic patients.

The prevalence of Trichomonas spp. was low and stable in both populations in the 4 years, indicating an equilibrium in terms of numbers of this agent in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil. The results corroborate the hypothesis that SES may influence the epidemiology of trichomoniasis. The prevalence of the infection increases with age, a phenomenon not observed with other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhoea or Chlamydia trachomatis.