Virulence of Sporothrix luriei in a murine model of disseminated infection.

Sporothrix luriei is a rare fungus causing sporotrichosis in humans. The virulence of this fungus was evaluated in a murine model of disseminated infection. Mice were challenged intravenously with two different inocula (2 × 10(5) and 2 × 10(7) CFU/animals) but only the highest one was able to kill the animals. Infected mice died between days 12 and 16, liver and spleen being the most affected organs. In the infected tissues, a massive infiltration of fungal cells and phagocytes were observed, but not the typical "eyeglass" cells described in infected human tissue.