Leishmania hide-and-seek: Parasite amastigotes in the choroid plexus of a dog with neurological signs in an endemic municipality in Brazil

Author(s)

Grano, Fernanda Grecco ; dos Santos Silva, Jose Eduardo ; de Melo, Guilherme Dias ; Machado, Gisele Fabrino

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS; v. 17, p. 4-pg., 2019-08-01.

Abstract

A female adult mixed-breed stray dog presented with hind limb paraparesis and clinical signs of visceral leishmaniasis. The cerebrospinal fluid presented signs of blood-brain barrier disruption. Both spleen and brain were positive for Leishmania spp. DNA. Besides inflammation, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed the presence of intracellular amastigotes in the choroid plexus (CP). Despite other studies that revealed parasite DNA, the current study describes the presence of Leishmania within the brain of a naturally infected dog, specifically in CP, with no previous reports in the Americas, and suggests the CP as a possible pathway to parasite entry into the brain. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/02384-9 - BRAIN INFLAMMATION IN DOGS WITH VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS: Activation of Innate and Adaptative Immune Response.
• Grantee: Gisele Fabrino Machado
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/01202-9 - Investigation of pro-inflammatory factors and tight junction proteins expression in the choroid plexus of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis
• Grantee: José Eduardo dos Santos Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/25498-1 - Investigation of Toll-like receptors activation in the brain of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis
• Grantee: Fernanda Grecco Grano
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate