Comparison of Immunosuppressive effects of Cyclosporin A and Dexamethasone on invasive aspergillosis in experimental animals

In this study, 60 female, New Zealand white rabbits were
chosen and divided into 3 groups . The animals in group
1&2 were immunosuppressed with dexamethazone and
cyclosporin A (CYA) respectively. The animals in group 3
(control animals) were not immunosuppressed. In each
group, half of the rabbits were infected intratracheally and
the other half were infected intravenously with 4
conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus . None of the 20 control
animals showed any clinical symptoms.all the rabbits in
groups 1&2, which were infected intravenously, developed
clinical signs of invasive aspergillosis. However, of these 2
groups the rabbits which were given the conidia
intratracheally , only 7 of 10 animals in group 1
demonstrated clinical signs of aspergillosis. At autopsy
there was macroscopic and microscopic evidence of
invasive aspergillosis. Histopathological examination
revealed hyphae invasion in liver, lung, brain and spleen.
We conclude, in natural conditions that aspergillosis is
initiated by inhalation of airborn condidia, cortison-treated
patients are more susceptible to invasive aspergillosis
than individuals who received CY-A.