Search

Background: Ocular manifestations in dogs with leishmaniasis are frequent and complications in affected tissues can lead to blindness. Immune processes play a very important role in the pathogenesis of ocular inflammation. Therefore, the immunology of ocular manifestations in dogs with leishmaniasis remains complex and poorly understood. Objectives: Estimation and characterisation of ocular and periocular manifestations in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum and investigation of the production site of specific anti‐Leishmania infantum IgG. Methods: The present investigation used 53 confirmed dogs infected with Leishmania infantum, presenting ocular and periocular lesions, and 10 control non‐infected dogs. Complete macroscopic ophthalmic examination of eyelids and globes was performed. Both total and anti‐Leishmania infantum IgG antibodies were studied in sera and aqueous humour (AH) of all dogs by ELISA technique. A Goldmann–Witmer coefficient (C value) was calculated. Results: The main ophthalmological findings were keratoconjunctivitis (71.7%; 38/53), hyperplasia of conjunctival lymphoid follicles (54.7%; 29/53), blepharitis (50.9%; 27/53) and uveitis (20.7%; 11/53). Ocular production of anti‐Leishmania infantum IgG was detected in 73.6% (39/53) of infected dogs. There was no correlation between the antibody levels in AH and sera of the same dog. The mean anti‐Leishmania infantum IgG in AH was higher in uveitis, followed by lesions affecting only the adnexa (p < 0.0001). The highest mean C values were observed for uveitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that production of anti‐Leishmania IgG in dogs infected with Leishmania infantum with ocular manifestations begin in situ and follows by a transfer of antibodies from the bloodstream to the AH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and the type of macroscopic ocular lesions associated with canine leishmaniasis. Thirty confirmed dogs presenting ocular and/or periocular leishmaniasis were included in the study. More than half of the dogs examined showed keratoconjunctivitis (56.6%) and follicular hyperplasia (56.6%), blepharitis was present in half of the dogs (50%), and anterior uveitis was found in 16.6%. Progressive retinal atrophy was observed in 10% of the dogs. All the dogs included in the study were euthanized, the sixty eyeballs were removed, the microscopic lesions of the various ocular structures explored and the presence of Leishmania checked. The specific lesions of lymphoplasmocytic and macrophagic infiltrations associated or not with the presence of Leishmania concerned the conjunctiva (90%), the sclerocorneal limbus (70%), the periorbital muscle (63.3%), the anterior uveitis (43.3%) and the cornea (43.3%); sclera (3.3%) and iridocorneal angle (26.6%) were less frequently affected. A statistically significant relation was found between the presence of the parasite and the infiltrates and the clinical signs. However, the microscopic lesions were more frequent than clinically expressed lesions. Practionners should give particular attention to ophthalmological examination in endemic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives de l'Institut Pasteur de Tunis is the property of Institut Pasteur de Tunis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)