Efficacy of voriconazole in a murine model of cryptococcal central nervous system infection

Objectives We studied the efficacy of voriconazole compared with amphotericin B in a murine model of central nervous system infection by Cryptococcus neoformans. Infection was established intracerebrally. Methods Mice were treated with voriconazole at 10, 40 or 60 mg/kg/day orally or with amphotericin B at 1.5 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally. Treatment began 1 day after infection and continued for 10 days post-infection. Tissue burden studies were performed on day 7 and 1 day after the treatment finished. Results Both drugs were able to significantly prolong survival with respect to the control group. The highest tissue burden reduction was achieved with voriconazole at 60 mg/kg/day. Conclusions We have developed a murine model of cryptococcal central nervous system infection and demonstrated that voriconazole has a potential for the treatment of cryptococcosis.