The role of MIF in the intestine of dogs with Visceral Leishmaniosis

• Grant number: 16/15725-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: May 15, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Rosemeri de Oliveira Vasconcelos
• Grantee: Jéssica Dias Basso
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Visceral Leishmaniasis (LV) is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum, which from its inoculation in the primary cutaneous site of the dog, can infect several organs, causing an imbalance of the immune system. The intestine is one of these organs, presenting chronic enteritis. The cytokine MIF (Macrophages Migration Inhibitory Factor) is widely studied in chronic enteric diseases of man. The objective of this study was to analyze the presence of this cytokine in the different segments of the small and large intestine of dogs with VL, considering the parasitic load, the density of cells immunolabelled for MIF and the intensity and cellular profile of the inflammatory process. Therefore, it is intended to use 20 naturally infected dogs, from endemic area to LV (infected group) and five non-endemic dogs (control group). The intestine segments will be submitted to histopathological and immunohistochemical analyzes. The parasite load (seropositive dog hyperimmune serum) and the presence of MIF (Santa Cruz, SC 20121) will be determined by the Polymer Complex linked to Peroxidase. It is hoped that these results may contribute to the pathogenesis of canine VL, since the presence of MIF could explain the resistance or susceptibility of the intestine to multiplication of the parasite. (AU)