Abstract: Objective To compare the antifungal activity of itraconazole against Aspergillus fumigatus with fluconazole in vitro and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of itraconazole against Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis in mice.Methods Mice model of Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis was set up by intrastromal injection and confirmed by microscopy and fungal culture.Minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration(MFC) of itraconazole and fluconazole to Aspergillus fumigatus were determined by agar dilution method.Mice with Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis were treated by itraconazole.Clinical assessment,inflammatory evaluation and colony-forming unit(CFU) counting were recorded by the end of the treatment.Results The MICs and MFCs of itraconzole and fluconazole to Aspergillus fumigatus were 6.25 μg/mL and 12.5 μg/mL,500 μg/mL and 1 000 μg/mL,respectively.Compared with control group,mice treated by itraconazole showed significant improvement in clinical assessment,inflammatory evaluation and CFU counting(P<0.05).Conclusions Itraconzole is superior to fluconazole in the treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis in vitro.

Key words: itraconazole;fluconazole, Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis