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

Parasites & Vectors

Table 4 Summary of signalment, clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities, and the results of diagnostic tests for leishmaniosis significantly associated with seroreactivity to different antigens tested by IFAT and with positive results tested by PCR in dogs with clinical leishmaniosis

Test performed	Pathogen	Laboratory abnormalities^{a, b}	Clinical signs^c
IFAT	R. conorii ^d	Increase: ns Decrease: albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, lymphocyte concentration	ns
	E. canis ^e	Increase: total protein, gamma globulins Decrease: albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, hematocrit, hemoglobin, RBC	ns
	A. phagocytophilum ^f	Increase: total protein, beta globulins, gamma globulins Decrease: albumin, albumin/globulin ratio	No presence of lameness
	B. henselae	Increase: total protein, beta globulins, gamma globulins Decrease: albumin/globulin ratio, hematocrit, hemoglobin	Marked lymphadenomegaly
PCR	Ehrlichia/Anaplasma	Increase: ns Decrease: hematocrit, RBC, platelet concentration	ns
PCR	Hepatozoon/Babesia	Increase: ns Decrease: ns	ns
Co-infections^g		Increase: total protein, beta globulins, gamma globulins, UPC Decrease: albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, lymphocyte concentration, hematocrit, hemoglobin, MCH	ns

Abbreviations: ns non-significant, UPC urinary protein/creatinine ratio, MCH mean corpuscular hemoglobin
^aAll statistically significant associations are present in the result section of this manuscript
^bNo statistically significant association was found between the tested pathogens and other laboratorial abnormalities recorded (creatinine, urea, ALT, total cholesterol, urinary protein/creatinine ratio, leucocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and reticulocyte concentrations)
^cNo statistically significant association was found between the tested pathogens and the other clinical signs recorded (fever, weight loss, skin lesions, ocular lesions, muscular atrophy, splenomegaly, vomiting and diarrhea, joint pain, polyuria and polydipsia, epistaxis and neurological disorders)
^dStatistically significant association was also found with older age (> 5 year-old) and a high positive antibody level by L. infantum quantitative ELISA
^eStatistically significant association was also found with neutering
^fStatistically significant association was also found with a high positive antibody level by L. infantum quantitative ELISA, being in stage III or IV of LeishVet clinical staging for L. infantum and being diagnosed in spring or winter
^gStatistically significant association was also found with high parasite load of L. infantum and older age

ISSN: 1756-3305