title: Prevalence of anti-platelet antibodies in dogs naturally co-infected by Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis.
abstract: Thirty naturally infected dogs were divided into three groups (10 animals each): group I (canine leishmaniosis), group II (canine ehrlichiosis) and group III (dogs co-infected by both infectious agents). Ten clinically healthy dogs were used as controls. A haematological profile was obtained and dog sera were assessed for the presence of platelet-bound IgM and IgG antibodies (PBIgM, PBIgG) using flow cytometry. Eight of the naturally co-infected dogs (80%), five of the leishmaniotic dogs (50%) and six of the ehrlichiotic dogs (60%) had detectable levels of platelet-bound antibodies (PBIg). No PBIg were observed in the control group. The hypothesis that Leishmania and Ehrlichia co-infection could more severely affect the immune response of infected dogs is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino, 1, 80137 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terrazzano
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piantedosi
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prisco
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciaramella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000276:immunology*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M