This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pinelli, E Articles by Ruitenberg, J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pinelli, E Articles by Ruitenberg, J

research-article

Cellular and humoral immune responses in dogs experimentally and naturally infected with Leishmania infantum.

Department of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACT

In this paper we describe a number of immunological parameters for dogs with a chronic Leishmania infantum infection which exhibit patterns of progressive disease or apparent resistance. The outcome of infection was assessed by isolation of parasites, serum antibody titers to Leishmania antigen, and development of clinical signs of leishmaniasis. Our studies show that 3 years after experimental infection, asymptomatic or resistant dogs responded to L. infantum antigen both in lymphocyte proliferation assays in vitro and in delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, whereas no serum antibodies to parasite antigen were shown. In contrast, symptomatic or susceptible animals failed to respond to parasite antigen in cell-mediated assays both in vitro and in vivo and showed considerably higher serum antibodies to leishmanial antigens. In addition, significantly higher level of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor were found in supernatants from stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells from asymptomatic dogs compared with those from symptomatic and control uninfected dogs. IL-6 production did not vary significantly among the groups studied. Finally, we observed similar results with a group of mixed-breed dogs with natural Leishmania infections also grouped as asymptomatic or symptomatic on the basis of clinical signs of canine visceral leishmaniasis. These results demonstrate that serum antibody titers, antigen-specific proliferative responses, delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reactions, and IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor production by peripheral mononuclear cells can be used as markers of disease progression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• SOLANO-GALLEGO, L., LLULL, J., RAMIS, A., FERNANDEZ-BELLON, H., RODRIGUEZ, A., FERRER, L., ALBEROLA, J. (2005). LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF DOGS LIVING IN AN AREA OF SPAIN HIGHLY ENDEMIC FOR LEISHMANIASIS BY SEROLOGIC ANALYSIS AND THE LEISHMANIN SKIN TEST. Am J Trop Med Hyg 72: 815-818 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Brachelente, C., Muller, N., Doherr, M. G., Sattler, U., Welle, M. (2005). Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Naturally Infected Dogs is Associated with a T Helper-2-biased Immune Response. Vet Pathol 42: 166-175 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• SANCHEZ, M. A., DIAZ, N. L., ZERPA, O., NEGRON, E., CONVIT, J., TAPIA, F. J. (2004). ORGAN-SPECIFIC IMMUNITY IN CANINE VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS: ANALYSIS OF SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC DOGS NATURALLY INFECTED WITH LEISHMANIA CHAGASI. Am J Trop Med Hyg 70: 618-624 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Reithinger, R., Espinoza, J. C., Courtenay, O., Davies, C. R. (2003). Evaluation of PCR as a Diagnostic Mass-Screening Tool To Detect Leishmania (Viannia) spp. in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris). J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 1486-1493 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Iniesta, L., Fernandez-Barredo, S., Bulle, B., Gomez, M. T., Piarroux, R., Gallego, M., Alunda, J. M., Portus, M. (2002). Diagnostic Techniques To Detect Cryptic Leishmaniasis in Dogs. CVI 9: 1137-1141 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Altet, L., Francino, O., Solano-Gallego, L., Renier, C., Sanchez, A. (2002). Mapping and Sequencing of the Canine NRAMP1 Gene and Identification of Mutations in Leishmaniasis-Susceptible Dogs. Infect. Immun. 70: 2763-2771 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lachaud, L., Marchergui-Hammami, S., Chabbert, E., Dereure, J., Dedet, J. P., Bastien, P. (2002). Comparison of Six PCR Methods Using Peripheral Blood for Detection of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 40: 210-215 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Murray, H. W. (2001). Clinical and Experimental Advances in Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45: 2185-2197 [Full Text]  
• Solano-Gallego, L., Morell, P., Arboix, M., Alberola, J., Ferrer, L. (2001). Prevalence of Leishmania infantum Infection in Dogs Living in an Area of Canine Leishmaniasis Endemicity Using PCR on Several Tissues and Serology. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 560-563 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pinelli, E., Rutten, V. P. M. G., Bruysters, M., Moore, P. F., Ruitenberg, E. J. (1999). Compensation for Decreased Expression of B7 Molecules on Leishmania infantum-Infected Canine Macrophages Results in Restoration of Parasite-Specific T-Cell Proliferation and Gamma Interferon Production. Infect. Immun. 67: 237-243 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Van Hellemond, J. J., Opperdoes, F. R., Tielens, A. G. M. (1998). Trypanosomatidae produce acetate via a mitochondrial acetate:succinate CoA transferase. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 3036-3041 [Abstract] [Full Text]