Identification of Dirofilaria immitis immunoreactive proteins recognized by sera from infected cats using...

The aim of the present work was to identify proteins of Dirofilaria immitis recognized by the immune system of naturally and experimentally infected cats, using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Thirty-five immunoreactive proteins of D. immitis were identified. These proteins are involved in metabolism, plasminogen binding, anti-oxidant and detoxificant activity, up-regulation of the Th2 anti-inflammatory response and other processes. The timing evolution of this recognition pattern indicated that at 2 months post-infection a wide recognition of many parasite proteins belonging to many functional groups is still observed, increasing progressively during the course of the infection. The real effect on the vital capacity of D. immitis worms and on the development of pathological events of feline dirofilariosis will be investigated in the future.