Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Seasonal changes in dog antibody levels for Leishmania infection
By Cavalera, M A et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2021·Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seasonal variation in canine anti-Leishmania infantum antibody titres.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 65 healthy dogs living in an area where leishmaniosis (a disease caused by the Leishmania parasite) is common were tested for antibodies against the parasite during the sand fly season and again during the non-transmission season. Most dogs showed a decrease in antibody levels during the non-transmission season, with 44% of them becoming seronegative, meaning they no longer had detectable antibodies. This suggests that the levels of these antibodies can vary with the seasons, which is important for veterinarians when diagnosing and treating leishmaniosis. Understanding these seasonal changes can help in making better clinical decisions for dogs at risk.
People also search for: dog leishmaniosis symptoms · leishmania treatment for dogs · seasonal dog disease prevention
Abstract
Quantitative anti-Leishmania antibody titres are critical in the management of dogs with leishmaniosis, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up, and there is a paucity of data relating changes in antibody titres to sand fly vector seasonality. This study aimed to evaluate seasonal variations in anti-Leishmania infantum antibody titres in dogs from a hyperendemic area for canine leishmaniosis (CanL). Leishmania infantum-seropositive and clinically healthy dogs (n=65) were sampled in June 2019 (sand fly season) and again in February-March 2020 (non-transmission season) to monitor clinical status and serological titres. There was a reduction in anti-L. infantum antibody titres during the non-transmission season in most dogs (n=36; 55.4%), and 44% of those dogs (n=16/36) became seronegative (i.e. below the cut-off value of 1:80). Given the relevance of serology to epidemiological, preventive and clinical studies related to CanL, seasonal variations in antibody titres are important in areas where phlebotomine vectors have seasonal patterns of activity. Sand fly seasonal period must be considered in the interpretation of annual anti-L. infantum antibody screening test results in asymptomatic dogs, to make clinical decisions about staging, treatment and prevention.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33840483/