Contact lens-induced infection--a new model of Candida albicans keratitis.

PURPOSE: A model of experimental keratomycosis was established that mimics human disease in which the only fungi present are those that are actively growing within the cornea. METHODS: Dutch-belted rabbits received a subconjunctival injection of triamcinolone acetonide to one eye. One day later the epithelium was removed from the central cornea and a standardized inoculum of Candida albicans blastoconidia was placed on the corneal surface and covered with a contact lens. The lids were closed with a lateral tarsorrhaphy. After 24 hours, the lid sutures and contact lens were removed. Five days later the animals were killed, and their corneas were subjected to separate isolate recovery and histology studies. A group of similarly infected rabbits without corticosteroid injection served as controls. RESULTS: Both groups developed invasive corneal disease. Although isolate recovery was not significantly different from corticosteroid-treated rabbits compared with controls, fungal biomass was increased. Hyphal invasion was limited to the anterior cornea in control eyes, but penetrated deep stroma in most of the corticosteroid-treated rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: Invasive corneal disease can be established with a surface inoculum. Corticosteroid administration increased corneal penetration of hyphae. Quantitative isolate recovery is not a reliable measure of the fungal load within the cornea.