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Immune response dynamics and Lutzomyia longipalpis exposure characterize a biosignature of visceral leishmaniasis susceptibility in a canine cohort
- Source :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 15, Iss 2, p e0009137 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background Reports have shown correlations between the immune response to vector saliva and Leishmaniasis outcome. We followed dogs in an endemic area for two years characterizing resistance or susceptibility to canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) according to Leishmania infantum diagnosis and clinical development criteria. Then, we aimed to identify a biosignature based on parasite load, serum biological mediators’ interactions, and vector exposure intensity associated with CVL resistance and susceptibility. Methodology/Principal findings A prospective two-year study was conducted in an area endemic for CVL. Dogs were evaluated at 6-month intervals to determine infection, clinical manifestations, immune profile, and sandfly exposure. CVL resistance or susceptibility was determined upon the conclusion of the study. After two years, 78% of the dogs were infected with L. infantum (53% susceptible and 47% resistant to CVL). Susceptible dogs presented higher splenic parasite load as well as persistence of the parasite during the follow-up, compared to resistant ones. Susceptible dogs also displayed a higher number of correlations among the investigated biological mediators, before and after infection diagnosis. At baseline, anti-saliva antibodies, indicative of exposure to the vector, were detected in 62% of the dogs, reaching 100% in one year. Higher sandfly exposure increased the risk of susceptibility to CVL by 1.6 times (CI: 1.11–2.41). We identified a discriminatory biosignature between the resistant and susceptible dogs assessing splenic parasite load, interaction of biological mediators, PGE2 serum levels and intensity of exposure to sandfly. All these parameters were elevated in susceptible dogs compared to resistant animals. Conclusions/Significance The biosignature identified in our study reinforces the idea that CVL is a complex multifactorial disease that is affected by a set of factors which are correlated and, for a better understanding of CVL, should not be evaluated in an isolated way.<br />Author summary Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease that can affect humans and dogs, caused by a parasite called Leishmania transmitted through the bite of sandfly insects. During the bite, together with the parasite, the insects also inoculate their saliva into the host. The host immune response produces molecules to the sandfly saliva, such as antibodies and cytokines that can impact VL resistance or susceptibility. The presence of these molecules also indicates if the insects bit the hosts. We followed dogs of a VL endemic area for two years to study Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) and immune response to sandfly saliva. Dogs were evaluated at 6-month intervals to determine Leishmania infection, clinical manifestations, parasite load, immune response, and sandfly exposure. CVL resistance or susceptibility was determined upon the conclusion of the study. Dogs living in the endemic area were intensely bitten, as at the beginning of the study, 62% of the dogs present anti-saliva antibodies, reaching 100% after one year. Our findings revealed a biosignature of CVL susceptibility characterized by elevated parasite load, interaction of cytokines, and higher exposure to the sandfly. This data reinforced that CVL is a complex disease affected by several factors related to each other.
- Subjects :
- Male
Physiology
RC955-962
Disease Vectors
Parasite load
Biochemistry
Parasite Load
Medical Conditions
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
Zoonoses
Immune Physiology
Medicine and Health Sciences
Parasite hosting
Bites and Stings
Dog Diseases
Prospective Studies
Enzyme-Linked Immunoassays
Leishmania infantum
Leishmaniasis
Mammals
Protozoans
Leishmania
Immune System Proteins
biology
Eukaryota
Veterinary Diagnostics
Infectious Diseases
Vertebrates
Leishmaniasis, Visceral
Female
Disease Susceptibility
Antibody
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Brazil
Research Article
Neglected Tropical Diseases
Veterinary Medicine
Immunology
Research and Analysis Methods
Antibodies
Dinoprostone
Immune system
Dogs
medicine
Parasitic Diseases
Animals
Immunoassays
Saliva
Protozoan Infections
business.industry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Organisms
Biology and Life Sciences
Proteins
biology.organism_classification
medicine.disease
Tropical Diseases
Parasitic Protozoans
Sandfly
Insect Vectors
Sand Flies
Species Interactions
Visceral leishmaniasis
Amniotes
biology.protein
Immunologic Techniques
Veterinary Science
Psychodidae
business
Zoology
Spleen
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19352735 and 19352727
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....e3ee638948a61512f11d5e3cefe7fa55