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Veterinary parasitology2005; 135(2); 181-185; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.09.007

Immune response to Leishmania infantum in healthy horses in Spain.

Abstract: Leishmania infantum infection has recently been described in horses in Europe. We report the results of a study on the immune response to L. infantum in horses living in an area endemic for leishmaniosis in NE Spain. Two ELISAs using protein A and anti-horse IgG conjugates were adapted to measure specific antibodies to L. infantum in horse sera. A lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to L. infantum antigen was also performed to detect specific cellular immune response to Leishmania. Anti-L. infantum antibodies were detected in the serum of 16 of the horses studied (n=112) using the protein A assay but not in the assay using the anti-horse IgG conjugate. Specific lymphocyte proliferation was observed in 20 out of 55 horses. This study shows that horses in the area studied mount specific immune responses to L. infantum, and must therefore be considered among the species exposed to the parasite in this region. The infrequency of leishmaniosis in horses suggests that the immune response in this species is effective in controlling the infection.
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Publication Date: 2005-10-06 PubMed ID: 16213661DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.09.007Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article focuses on understanding the horse immune response to Leishmania infantum infection in north-eastern Spain, where the disease is endemic. The researchers used laboratory tests to measure how the horses’ bodies recognized and responded to the parasite, suggesting that horses in the region must be considered potential carriers due to their specific immune response.

Understanding Leishmania infantum

  • Leishmania infantum is a parasite responsible for causing the disease leishmaniosis in animals and humans, and has previously been identified in horses within Europe.
  • The infection is endemic in certain parts of Spain, hence the researchers aimed to understand the immune response in horses within this region.

Methodology

  • Two ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays), using protein A and anti-horse IgG conjugates, were adapted to measure specific antibodies against L. infantum within horse serum (the fluid part of the blood).
  • A lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells to detect a specific cellular immune response to Leishmania. Lymphocyte proliferation indicates the activation of certain white blood cells that are key in fighting off foreign invading organisms.

Results

  • Using the protein A assay, anti-L. infantum antibodies were detected in the serum of 16 of the 112 horses studied. However, the anti-horse IgG conjugate assay did not identify these antibodies.
  • Specific lymphocyte proliferation, indicating an immune response, was observed in 20 out of the 55 horses tested.

Implications

  • The study’s results indicate that horses within the studied region show a specific immune response against L. infantum, suggesting that they are exposed to the parasite.
  • This conclusion means horses in this region must be considered potential carriers of the disease as they react immunologically to the parasite.
  • The relative rarity of leishmaniosis in horses could be due to an effective immune response, which enables horses to control and limit the infection. This could also be researched further to develop potential treatment or prevention strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Fernández-Bellon H, Solano-Gallego L, Bardagí M, Alberola J, Ramis A, Ferrer L. (2005). Immune response to Leishmania infantum in healthy horses in Spain. Vet Parasitol, 135(2), 181-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2005.09.007

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 135
Issue: 2
Pages: 181-185

Researcher Affiliations

Fernández-Bellon, Hugo
  • Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
Solano-Gallego, Laia
    Bardagí, Mar
      Alberola, Jordi
        Ramis, Antonio
          Ferrer, Lluis

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Antibodies, Protozoan / biosynthesis
            • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
            • Endemic Diseases / veterinary
            • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
            • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
            • Female
            • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
            • Horse Diseases / immunology
            • Horse Diseases / parasitology
            • Horses
            • Immunity, Cellular
            • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
            • Leishmania infantum / immunology
            • Leishmania infantum / isolation & purification
            • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / epidemiology
            • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / immunology
            • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / veterinary
            • Lymphocyte Activation
            • Male
            • Spain / epidemiology
            • Staphylococcal Protein A / immunology

            Citations

            This article has been cited 16 times.
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