Evidence for modulated immune response to Anaplasma phagocytophila sensu lato in cats with FIV-induced immunosuppression.
Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is an emerging infectious disease in which some patients experience unusual opportunistic infections. In this study, cats infected with the HGE agent, Anaplasma phagocytophila s.l., had clinical granulocytic ehrlichiosis (GE), anti-nuclear antibodies and increased IFN-gamma mRNA. In FIV-immunosuppressed cats with GE, there was upregulated IL-10 transcription but not IFN-gamma. Cats with FIV had poor response to vaccines, regardless of GE status. This preliminary report demonstrates that cats with FIV-infection make a good model of ehrlichiosis in an immunocompromised host, and that viral immunosuppression may not increase the severity of ehrlichiosis but may attenuate immune responses to the pathogen.
Foley
J E
JE
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. jefoley@ucdavis.edu
Leutenegger
C M
CM
Dumler
J S
JS
Pedersen
N C
NC
Madigan
J E
JE
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma