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Early suppression of lymphoproliferative response in dogs with natural infection by Leishmania infantum.
- Source :
-
Veterinary immunology and immunopathology [Vet Immunol Immunopathol] 1999 Sep 01; Vol. 70 (1-2), pp. 95-103. - Publication Year :
- 1999
-
Abstract
- Dogs are the domestic reservoirs of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum. Early detection of canine infections evolving to clinically patent disease may be important to leishmaniasis control. In this study we firstly investigated the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) response to leishmanial antigens and to polyclonal activators concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen, of mixed-breed dogs with natural L. infantum infection, either in presymptomatic or in patent disease condition, compared to healthy animals. Leishmania antigens did not induce a clear proliferative response in any of the animals examined. Furthermore, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was found strongly reduced not only in symptomatic, but also in presymptomatic dogs suggesting that the cell-mediated immunity is suppressed in progressive canine leishmaniasis. To test this finding, naive Beagle dogs were exposed to natural L. infantum infection in a highly endemic area of southern Italy. Two to 10 months after exposure all dogs were found to be infected by Leishmania, and on month 2 of exposure they all showed a significant reduction in PBMC activation by mitogens. Our results indicate that suppression of the lymphoproliferative response is a common occurrence in dogs already at the beginning of an established leishmanial infection.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antigens, Protozoan immunology
Antigens, Protozoan pharmacology
Concanavalin A immunology
Concanavalin A pharmacology
Dogs
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay veterinary
Female
Leishmania infantum
Leishmaniasis, Visceral immunology
Male
Phytohemagglutinins immunology
Phytohemagglutinins pharmacology
Pokeweed Mitogens immunology
Pokeweed Mitogens pharmacology
Dog Diseases immunology
Leishmaniasis, Visceral veterinary
Lymphocyte Activation drug effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0165-2427
- Volume :
- 70
- Issue :
- 1-2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Veterinary immunology and immunopathology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10507290
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-2427(99)00073-2