Clinical significance of blood cell ratios in healthy and sick Leishmania infantum-seropositive dogs.

Background: The accuracy of blood cell ratios (BCRs) as cost-effective and easily accessible diagnostic and prognostic markers of inflammatory conditions has been investigated in veterinary medicine in recent years.

Methods: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) ratios were studied in 195 dogs clinically evaluated and tested for anti-Leishmania infantum (Li) antibodies (Li-seronegative (Li), n = 10; Li-seropositive clinically healthy (Li), n = 100; Li-seropositive with clinical and/or clinicopathological abnormalities (Li), n = 85). The Li dogs were classified in LeishVet stages IIa/IIb (Li) (n = 66) and III/IV (Li) (n = 19).

A blinded, randomized and controlled multicenter clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of Leisguard as an immunotherapeutic treatment for healthy Leishmania infantum-seropositive dogs.

Background: Domperidone (Leisguard) is an immunomodulatory drug used as a preventive measure in healthy dogs. However, no studies have been published in healthy Leishmania infantum-seropositive dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of domperidone as immunotherapy in Leishmania-seropositive healthy dogs.

Exploring the Relationship between Neutrophil Activation and Different States of Canine Infection: Nitroblue Tetrazolium Test and IFN-γ.

This study aimed to investigate the role of neutrophils in canine leishmaniosis by assessing neutrophil activation and its relationship with different states of infection and antibody and IFN-γ production. Dogs were categorized into five groups: healthy-seronegative ( = 25), healthy-seropositive ( = 21), LeishVet-stage I ( = 25), Leishvet-stage II ( = 41), and LeishVet-stage III-IV ( = 16). Results of the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test (NBT) showed significantly higher neutrophil activation in stage I (median:17.

Effect of storage on the nitro blue tetrazolium reduction test in dog blood samples.

Introduction: The nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test (NBTT) has been used for measuring the metabolic activity of phagocytes of mammals. Activated neutrophils transform NBT into formazan in the cytoplasm. The NBTT can detect the activation of neutrophils in peripheral blood and is used to assess neutrophil function in dogs.

Serological survey of Leishmania infantum in apparently healthy dogs in different areas of Spain.

Background: Canine leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is an endemic disease in Spain. The dog is considered the main reservoir, and the detection of specific serum antibodies against L. infantum antigen is the most used technique for diagnosing this infection.

Signalment, Immunological and Parasitological Status and Clinicopathological Findings of -Seropositive Apparently Healthy Dogs.

Canine leishmaniosis caused by is a disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Epidemiological serosurveys performed in Europe often lack a thorough assessment of clinical health status of studied dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate signalment, immunological and parasitological status and clinicopathological findings of -seropositive apparently healthy dogs (n = 212) living in endemic areas.

Detection of specific antibodies against Leishmania infantum in canine serum and oral transudate using an in-house ELISA.

Background: Canine leishmaniosis caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum is a complex infection due to its variable clinical signs and laboratory findings. Therefore, a broad range of techniques is available for diagnosis. Testing for specific antibodies in serum is the most commonly used technique, although the testing of other body fluids, such as oral transudate (OT), can be an alternative as its collection is non-invasive and testing can be performed by untrained personnel.

Use of preventive measures and serological screening tools for Leishmania infantum infection in dogs from Europe.

Background: There are several screening tools for detecting Leishmania infantum infection in dogs and various preventive measures to protect against it. Some studies have investigated them, but not many have described their current use. The aim of this study was to investigate which preventive measures and serological screening tools for L.

Prospective serological and molecular cross-sectional study focusing on Bartonella and other blood-borne organisms in cats from Catalonia (Spain).

Background: There is limited clinical or epidemiological knowledge regarding Bartonella infection in cats, and no serological studies have compared the presence of antibodies against different Bartonella species. Moreover, there are limited feline Bartonella studies investigating co-infections with other vector-borne pathogens and the associated risk factors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate Bartonella spp.

Antibodies in Serum and Oral Fluid Specimens from Cats.

Cats are the primary reservoir host for ), an etiological agent of human bartonellosis, including cat scratch disease. Although DNA has been amplified from salivary swabs from cats, dogs and humans, we are not aware of studies investigating antibodies in oral fluid (OF). Using inhouse and commercial immunofluorescence antibody assays (IFA), the objective of this study was to detect and compare antibodies against in paired OF and serum specimens from cats.

The Effects of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) and TLR Agonists Alone or as Polyplex Nanoparticles against Promastigotes and Amastigotes.

Dogs are the main reservoir for manifesting from a subclinical to a fatal disease. Limited treatments are available, although new antiparasitics and immunomodulators are pursued. Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) has a broad antimicrobial spectrum, including antiparasitic activity.

Toll-like receptors 2, 4 and 7, interferon-gamma and interleukin 10, and programmed death ligand 1 transcripts in skin from dogs of different clinical stages of leishmaniosis.

Background: Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) caused by Leishmania infantum can have several dermatological manifestations. The type of immune response elicited against the parasite appears to be at the basis for such clinical variability. Much of the work in CanL has focused on adaptive immune response and there are scarce data on the importance of the innate immune responses.

Immunotherapy in clinical canine leishmaniosis: a comparative update.

Leishmaniosis due to Leishmania infantum is a complex infection that can affect both humans and dogs, and present a wide range of clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities. The conventional treatment of this disease is challenging due to the fact that complete parasitological cure commonly does not occur. Furthermore, treatment of the disease with the conventionally used drugs has several shortcomings.

Total serum IgD from healthy and sick dogs with leishmaniosis.

Background: Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is characterized by the development of both cellular and humoral immune responses. The dysfunction of T cell-mediated immunity leads to a lack of proliferation of T cells in response to Leishmania antigens with the consequence of parasite dissemination that seems to be related to a T cell exhaustion mediated by regulatory B cells expressing immunoglobulin D (IgD). The aim of this study was to determine and compare the total serum IgD in dogs with clinical leishmaniosis and in clinically healthy dogs.

Does co-infection with vector-borne pathogens play a role in clinical canine leishmaniosis?

Background: The severity of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum might be affected by other vector-borne organisms that mimic its clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities. The aim of this study was to determine co-infections with other vector-borne pathogens based on serological and molecular techniques in dogs with clinical leishmaniosis living in Spain and to associate them with clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities as well as disease severity.

Methods: Sixty-one dogs with clinical leishmaniosis and 16 apparently healthy dogs were tested for Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Bartonella henselae antigens by the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and for E.