Influence of Gonadectomy on Candida albicans Urinary Tract Infection in CFW Mice

Candida albicans appeared in the urine of approximately 80% of CFW mice of both sexes within 2 weeks after intraperitoneal inoculation. During a follow-up period of 10 weeks, candiduria tended to clear, but persisted in 37% of males as compared to only 16% in females. Autopsy kidney cultures yielded candida in 53% of males as compared to 25% of females. Urine cultures in both sexes when positive contained 10 3.5 to 10 4.5 candida/ml regardless of the outcome of the infection. Preinoculation gonadectomy in both sexes increased resistance to the infection but did not alter the quantitative aspects of candiduria.