To evaluate further the contribution of activated macrophages in resistance, the course of systemic candidosis was assayed in beige and NLM mice that had been previously infected with Mycobacterium bovis (BCG). Four weeks following BCG infection, mice were inoculated intravenously with 1 x 10(4) viable Candida albicans. At various times thereafter, the number of C. albicans colony-forming units in the livers, spleens, and kidneys was determined. The average number of CFU recovered from the kidneys of NLM mice decreased throughout the assay and was comparable in both BCG-treated and control mice. In contrast, the number of CFU cultured from the kidneys of untreated control beige mice progressively increased throughout the assay period. This profile of renal susceptibility was not appreciably altered in BCG-treated beige mice. However, fewer (10- to 100-fold) CFU were cultured from the livers and spleens of BCG-treated beige and NLM mice than from untreated controls. These results support the hypothesis that in the absence of functional polymorphonuclear leukocytes, activated macrophages represent a means to control the proliferation of C. albicans.