RESUMO
Objective To investigate the pathogenicity of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and to discuss the pathogenesis of systemic mycosis.Methods Cell suspension of S.brevicaulis was injected into tail-veins of normal and immunocompromised mice.Histopatholoy and fungal culture were performed on sacrified and naturally died mice at different time.Results The organs were infected soon after injection.Necrotic tissue appeared earlier and polymorphonuclear leucocytes(PMNs)decreased in the spleens of the immunocompro-mised mice.Conclusions Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is a kind of opportunistic fungus with relatively high virulence.The ability of fungi to penetrate host cells is crucial for the progression of infection.PMNs play an important role in the early immune response.