Histopathology and antifungal treatment of experimental murine chromoblastomycosis caused by Cladophialophora carrionii.

OBJECTIVES A murine model of chromoblastomycosis caused by Cladophialophora carrionii was used to compare the efficacy of posaconazole and voriconazole with that of terbinafine and itraconazole, the currently used drugs in the management of chromoblastomycosis. METHODS Athymic nude mice were infected with 2 × 10(7) cfu of a clinical isolate of C. carrionii. When typical lesions were established, treatments with posaconazole at 20 mg/kg/day, voriconazole at 20 mg/kg/day, itraconazole at 50 mg/kg/day or terbinafine at 250 mg/kg/day were initiated. Treatment efficacy was evaluated for 4 months by measuring the size of the lesions, observing any histopathological changes and culturing the excised tissue. RESULTS Posaconazole was the only drug that reduced the initial lesion size, while voriconazole and terbinafine reduced growth relative to controls. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the newer triazoles have potential in the treatment of chromoblastomycosis caused by C. carrionii.