Abstract
The spleen is involved in visceral leishmaniasis immunopathogenesis, and presents alterations in white-pulp microenvironments that are associated with an increased susceptibility to coinfections and patient death. Plasmacytosis in splenic red pulp (RP) is one observed alteration, but the specificity of antibody-secreting cells and the distribution of them has not yet been evaluated. We biotinylated soluble L. infantum membrane antigens (bSLMA) used as probes in modified immunohistochemistry, and detected the presence of anti-L. infantum antibody-secreting cells. Were used spleens from eight dogs from the endemic area for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanL), and three healthier controls. The spleen sections were cryopreserved, and we performed modified immunohistochemistry. The ratio of plasma cells which were reactive to bSLMA (Anti-Leish-PC) in the spleen RP and periarteriolar lymphatic sheath (PALS) were calculated. Dogs with CanL present hyperglobulinemia and more plasma cells in their RP than the controls. Furthermore, dogs with CanL presented a lower proportion of Anti-Leish-PC in their RP than in PALS. Likewise, dysproteinemia was related to RP and PALS plasmacytosis, and a more severe clinical profile.
Highlights
Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis (ZVL) is a parasitic disease with a great impact on public health
Among the main histological changes observed in this organ during ZVL, the following stand out: hyperplasia followed by structural disorganization and the atrophy of lymphoid follicles, a decreased number of follicular dendritic cells, and red pulp (RP) plasmacytosis [3]
In a previous study by Silva-O’hare and colleagues (2016), it was shown that spleen plasmacytosis correlates with serum dysproteinemia in animals with can be affected by visceral leishmaniasis (CanL) [9]
Summary
Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis (ZVL) is a parasitic disease with a great impact on public health. It is present in several countries around the world, including Brazil [1]. Dogs can be affected by visceral leishmaniasis (CanL), and are an important source of infection for humans. The spleen is an important secondary lymphoid organ which is involved in all cases of ZVL. Among the main histological changes observed in this organ during ZVL, the following stand out: hyperplasia followed by structural disorganization and the atrophy of lymphoid follicles, a decreased number of follicular dendritic cells, and red pulp (RP) plasmacytosis [3]. The alterations in splenic histology are usually associated with a high parasite load and more severe disease [4,5,6], whereas the preservation of spleen architecture was associated with less severe disease [7]
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