Evaluation of the fungicidal activity of equine and bovine monocytes against Pythium insidiosum zoospores

• Grant number: 17/26915-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: March 01, 2018
• End date until: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Sandra de Moraes Gimenes Bosco
• Grantee: Patrícia Moreno Sanchez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pythiosis is a granulomatous disease caused by the oomycete Pythium insidiosum. The agent is found in aquatic environments in tropical areas and the disease affects dogs, cattle, sheep, humans and is frequently reported in horses. The immune response profile of true fungi is characterized by the cellular immune response with predominance of mononuclear cells, forming the classic granuloma. However, the immune response observed in pythiosis is humoral with production of B lymphocytes and immunoglobulins, lesions are granulomatous with predominance of eosinophils. In horses, the disease is characterized by pyogranulomatous lesions and the presence of kunkers, and antifungal therapy has no effect. In bovines, the disease is also characterized by piogranulomatous lesions, however, in cattle a spontaneous cure of the disease is reported. The literature points out differences in the profile of defense cells between these two animal species, which leads us to believe that bovines have a more efficient immune response in the elimination of the infectious agent. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the fungicidal activity of equine and bovine monocytes challenged with Pythium insidiosum zoospores, from the evaluation of 10 blood samples from each species of animal. (AU)