Evaluation of the immune response in cats naturally affected by visceral leishmaniasis

• Grant number: 13/02394-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal researcher: Mary Marcondes
• Grantee: Karina Yukie Hirata
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The increasing number of cats infected with Leishmania infantum in endemic areas have demonstrated the necessity of an accurate diagnosis in this animal species. However, unlike dogs, cats that develop symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis do not always have a detectable humoral immune response, which could be identified by ELISA or IFAT. Also, the agreement between serology and parasitological diagnosis is poor. A possible explanation for this fact would be the development of a predominant cellular immune response in infected cats. In an attempt to better understand the immune response in cats naturally affected by visceral leishmaniasis, this study aims to evaluate the expression of cytokines by real time PCR (IFN-gama, TNF-±, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) in two groups; the first consisting of Leishmania infantum chagasi infected cats and the second of clinically healthy cats parasitologically and serologically negative for visceral leishmaniasis.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

HIRATA, Karina Yukie. Expressão gênica de interferon-gama, fator de necrose tumoral alfa e interleucinas 2 e 5 no baço de gatos naturalmente infectados por Leishmania spp: Karina Yukie Hirata. -. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária. Araçatuba Araçatuba.