The effect of itraconazole on the vaginal candidiasis under different immunity conditions in mice

Summary To study the effect of itraconazole on the vaginal candidiasis caused by Candida under different immunity conditions, the fungal vaginitis model was established in female ICR mice by intravaginal inoculation of suspension of C. albicans after the animal had been pretreated with estradiol or dexamethasone. Mice were divided at random into different groups and then treated with itraconazole or IFN-γ given by gastrogavage. The burden of the fungus in the vaginal lavage fluids in the mice of the different groups was measured dynamically at different time points after the beginning of the drug treatment. The difference in the effect of itraconazole on the vaginal candidiasis between normal immune system group (group A) and control group (group D) was statistically significant (P<0.01). The difference in the efficacy of itraconazole among immunosuppressed group (group E), immuno-regulated group (group F) and the control group (group G) was statistically significant (P<0.01). But on the 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th day after the inoculation the average level of colony forming unit (CFU) of groups A, E and F showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). It is concluded that the efficacy of itraconazole in the treatment of the vaginal candidiasis under different immunity conditions (groups A, E and F) in mice were all good, but there was no difference in the anti-fungal effect of itraconazole among the three groups. This project was supported by grants from the Science Research Foundation of Health Department of Hubei Province (No. JXIB048) and the Janssen Research Foundation.