Virulence of Curvularia in a murine model

We have evaluated the virulence of two clinically relevant species of Curvularia; Curvularia spicifera and C. hawaiiensis, using an experimental model of disseminated infection in immunocompromised mice. Several inocula were tested over a range 1 x 10(3)-1 x 10(6) colony- forming units/animal. Both species had a similar behaviour, producing a high mortality. Tissue burden and histopathology studies demonstrated that lung was the organ most affected.