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Published on: October 28, 2022
Acute phase protein response in experimental canine leishmaniasis
Silvia Martinez-Subiela1, Dalit Strauss-Ayali, Jose J Cerón
1Animal Medicine and Surgery Department, Veterinary School, University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain. silviams@um.es
Veterinary Parasitology
|April 23, 2011
Summary
Acute phase proteins (APPs) show promise as early diagnostic markers for canine leishmaniasis. Monitoring APP levels can also effectively track treatment response in infected dogs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Immunology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Acute phase proteins (APPs) are potential biomarkers for canine leishmaniasis.
- The dynamic changes (kinetics) of APPs during infection and treatment are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the kinetics of APPs in dogs experimentally infected with Leishmania infantum.
- To evaluate APPs as markers for disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring serum haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, and C-reactive protein in infected dogs over 21 months.
- Assessing immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) levels.
- Dogs were treated with allopurinol after initial infection.
Main Results:
- Experimental Leishmania infantum infection significantly increased all studied APPs by 2 months post-infection.
- Clinical recovery correlated with a significant decrease in APPs one month after treatment initiation.
- Immunoglobulin increases were delayed compared to APPs, and they did not decrease significantly with treatment.
Conclusions:
- APPs can serve as early indicators for canine leishmaniasis.
- APP levels are valuable for monitoring therapeutic effectiveness in canine leishmaniasis.
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