title: Evaluation of a specific immunochemotherapy for the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: The efficacy of specific immunochemotherapy against Leishmania infantum infection in dog was studied. The effects on transmission of the disease, as well as the cellular and humoral immune response were examined. The treated animals showed a significant reduction in the infection rates that were detected in Phlebotomus perniciosus females fed on the dog. The humoral immune response, assayed with an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), did not show significant variations under the influence of the therapy. The characterisation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using flow cytometry indicated a significant increase in the proportion of T lymphocytes, especially of CD4/TcR(alpha)(beta)(+) and CD4/CD45RA(+) cells, without showing evidence for modifications in the other leukocyte subsets. Cellular lymphoproliferation studies indicated a lack of a specific response to soluble leishmanial antigen (SLA), but the non-specific lymphoproliferative capacity assayed with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was maintained.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, C/ Miguel Servet 177, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guarga
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lucientes
authors.forename: Maria Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gracia
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Peribáñez
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D004175:Diptera / Q000469:parasitology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate