Cavalera Maria Alfonsa, Uva Annamaria, Carbonara Mariaelisa, Mendoza-Roldan Jairo Alfonso, Roura Xavier, Cerón José Joaquín, Otranto Domenico, Zatelli Andrea
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy.
Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
Parasit Vectors. 2025 Aug 1;18(1):319. doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06940-7.
In dogs affected by leishmaniosis, laboratory abnormalities and anti-Leishmania antibody titers are crucial for initial and relapse diagnosis, as well as for informing therapeutic decisions. This study aimed to evaluate laboratory findings in L. infantum seropositive dogs during and after the transmission season on the basis of the evidence that anti-L. infantum antibody titers vary between sand fly and nonsand fly transmission periods in dogs from areas where leishmaniosis is endemic.
In September 2021 (transmission season; T1) and January 2022 (nontransmission season; T2), L. infantum seropositive dogs were physically examined, and blood sampling was performed for laboratory tests. At both time points, dogs underwent routine hematology, a complete biochemical panel including acute phase proteins (i.e., C-reactive protein [CRP] and ferritin), erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] measurement, serum capillary electrophoresis, and serology for L. infantum. Potential coinfections with other arthropod-borne (Anaplasma phagocythophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Dirofilaria spp.) and snail-borne (Angiostrongylus vasorum) pathogens were also excluded.
Total protein and CRP levels were slightly reduced in T2 compared with T1, although the difference was not statistically significant. Antibody titers also decreased in 10 out of 18 dogs (55.5%), with two (20%) becoming seronegative, while they remained constant in eight out of 18 dogs (44.4%). Furthermore, a statistically significant reduction was observed in globulin percentage, ferritin, and ESR, whereas albumin percentage and total iron levels significantly increased.
Anti-L. infantum antibody titers and laboratory abnormalities in seropositive dogs living in endemic areas for leishmaniosis may vary. This variation may be related to vector seasonality and, consequently, dogs' exposure to sand fly saliva and potential reinfections. These results reinforce the importance of considering the sampling season in the clinical evaluation and management of dogs affected by leishmaniosis to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary antileishmanial treatments.
在感染利什曼病的犬类中，实验室检查异常和抗利什曼原虫抗体滴度对于初始诊断和复发诊断至关重要，同时也有助于指导治疗决策。本研究旨在根据利什曼病流行地区犬类中抗婴儿利什曼原虫抗体滴度在白蛉传播期和非白蛉传播期有所不同这一证据，评估婴儿利什曼原虫血清阳性犬在传播季节期间及之后的实验室检查结果。
在2021年9月（传播季节；T1）和2022年1月（非传播季节；T2），对婴儿利什曼原虫血清阳性犬进行体格检查，并采集血液进行实验室检测。在两个时间点，对犬进行常规血液学检查、包括急性期蛋白（即C反应蛋白[CRP]和铁蛋白）在内的完整生化指标检测、红细胞沉降率[ESR]测定、血清毛细管电泳以及婴儿利什曼原虫血清学检测。还排除了与其他节肢动物传播（嗜吞噬细胞无形体、犬埃立希体、恶丝虫属）和蜗牛传播（血管圆线虫）病原体的潜在合并感染。
与T1相比，T2时总蛋白和CRP水平略有降低，尽管差异无统计学意义。18只犬中有10只（55.5%）的抗体滴度也有所下降，其中2只（20%）变为血清阴性，而18只犬中有8只（44.4%）的抗体滴度保持不变。此外，观察到球蛋白百分比、铁蛋白和ESR有统计学意义的降低，而白蛋白百分比和总铁水平显著升高。
生活在利什曼病流行地区的血清阳性犬的抗婴儿利什曼原虫抗体滴度和实验室检查异常可能会有所不同。这种变化可能与媒介季节性有关，因此与犬接触白蛉唾液和潜在再感染有关。这些结果强化了在临床评估和管理感染利什曼病的犬时考虑采样季节的重要性，以避免误诊和不必要的抗利什曼原虫治疗。
