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Epidermal immunocompetence in canine leishmaniasis
D Fondevila1, M Vilafranca, L Ferrer
1Department de Patologia i Productions Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Dogs with alopecic dermatitis show effective Leishmania control due to functional antigen-presenting cells. Nodular lesions indicate impaired immunity and parasite proliferation, suggesting prognostic value for canine leishmaniasis skin lesions.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Dermatology
- Immunology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Cutaneous leishmaniasis involves complex host-parasite interactions.
- Epidermal antigen-presenting cells, including Langerhans cells (LC), play a crucial role in initiating immune responses.
- Assessing epidermal immunocompetence is vital for understanding disease progression in infected animals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of epidermal antigen-presenting cells in canine leishmaniasis.
- To correlate epidermal immunocompetence with clinical presentation and parasite load.
- To evaluate canine leishmaniasis skin lesions as a model for human cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Main Methods:
- Immunocytochemical analysis of skin lesions in 16 dogs with Leishmania infection.
- Evaluation of Langerhans cells (LC) and MHC class II-positive keratinocytes.
- Quantification of dermal macrophages, T cells, and Leishmania parasites.
Main Results:
- Alopecic dermatitis was associated with adequate LC and MHC II expression, mild T cell infiltration, and low parasite numbers.
- Nodular lesions lacked epidermal antigen-presenting cells, correlating with massive dermal infiltration of macrophages and parasites.
- Ulcerative lesions exhibited intermediate inflammatory patterns.
Conclusions:
- Dogs with alopecic dermatitis demonstrate effective Leishmania control, indicating a competent immune response.
- Impaired immune response and significant parasite presence characterize nodular lesions.
- Canine leishmaniasis skin lesions offer a valuable model for studying human cutaneous leishmaniasis progression.