Immunohistochemical investigation of the involvement of IgG and Fc-gamma receptors in the pathogenesis of brain lesions in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania chagasi

Abstract

Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis is a chronic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and can be transmitted to humans through the bite of the sandfly vector (Lutzomiyia longipalpis). The dog plays an important role in endemic areas for being the main domestic reservoir of the VL. It is a systemic disease affecting many organs such as the spleen, liver and bone marrow, organs rich in cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Although there are many descriptions of systemic lesions, there are few reports of occurrences in the CNS. In dogs with VL there are reports of meningitis, choroiditis, anti-Leishmania antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid, and high infiltration of inflammatory cells in the nervous tissue. Our objectives are to evaluate the brain lesions in dogs with VL, and to investigate the mechanisms involved in its occurrence, we propose to evaluate the occurrence of IgG and Fc³RI and Fc-gammaRIII receptors in the CNS (brain) and the periphery (spleen) of dogs naturally infected by L. chagasi, and the presence of albumin. The occurrence of the parasite in the environment will also be investigated nervous.