Abstract INTRODUCTION: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. This study aimed to evaluate the natural history of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis-induced experimental arthritis of the knee joints in Wistar rats. METHODS: Rats were randomly allocated to either an absolute control group, or 15-day, 45-day, or 90-day experimental (fungus-inoculated) groups. RESULTS: Experimental groups developed classic signs of articular PCM. Titers of anti-gp43 were observed to increase during the interval from 15 to 45 days post-inoculation. CONCLUSIONS: Articular arthritic lesions were induced and progressed during the study period in all experimental groups.

Paracoccidioidomicose (PCM), causada pelo fungo dimórfico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) é a micose sistêmica de maior prevalência na América Latina. Há poucos relatos na literatura sobre os danos da doença durante a gestação e as alterações para os conceptos e reprodutoras. O estudo avaliou as implicações da PCM durante o período gestacional sobre a prole e genitora em ratas Wistar. Grupos de ratas foram submetidos à infecção sistêmica por Pb, por meio de infusão intraperitoneal e acasaladas, 30 dias após a data da infecção. Imediatamente após o nascimento, as ratas e neonatos foram sacrificados para obtenção dos órgãos para exames histológicos padrão, análise de morfometria, recuperação de fungos por plaqueamento (UFC) e dosagem de anticorpos anti-Pb por ELISA. Não houve natimortos ou abortos, porém, os conceptos advindos de prenhas infectadas apresentaram menor peso corporal e dos órgãos, entre os grupos e a taxa de fecundidade foi de 100%. O maior número de UFC foi recuperado dos órgãos das ratas prenhas, o exame anátomo-patológico revelou infeção mais grave, no mesmo grupo, além do maior número de granulomas e fungos por campo. Pode-se concluir que a PCM ocorreu de modo mais grave no grupo de ratas prenhas, com implicações sobre o peso da prole.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. There are few reports in the literature about the disease damages during pregnancy and the consequences to the fetuses and breeding. This study evaluated the implications of PCM during pregnancy on offspring and mothers in Wistar rats. Groups of rats were submitted to systemic Pb infection, by intraperitoneal infusion, and mated 30 days after the infection date. Immediately after birth, rats and neonates were sacrificed to obtain organs for standard histological examination, morphometric analysis, fungi recovery by plating (CFU) and dosing of anti-Pb antibodies by ELISA. There were no stillbirths or miscarriages, however, the fetuses from infected pregnant rats had lower body and organ weight but the fertility rate was 100%. The largest number of CFU was recovered from the organ of pregnant rats, the pathological examination revealed more severe infection in the same group, further on the largest number of granulomas and fungal field. It can be concluded that the PCM was more severe in the group of pregnant rats, with implications to the weight of offspring.