Serum TNF- and IL-10 in Ehrlichia spp. naturally infected dogs
Lima, Adam LealSantos, Glauco Jonas LemosRoatt, Bruno MendesReis, Alexandre BarbosaFreitas, José Claudio CarneiroNunes-Pinheiro, Diana Célia Sousa
Background: Canine ehrlichiosis (CE) is a disease caused by Ehrlichia canis, transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus and dogs can present variable clinical manifestations, ranging from subclinical, acute to chronic illness. This pathogen preferentially infects leukocytes. In Brazil illness is described nationwide with the seropositivity varying from 4.8% to over 50%. The control of Ehrlichia spp. infection was related to cellular immune response mediated by Th1 while the CE acute phase is related to humoral immune response mediated by Th2, with high production of antibodies. Th1 and Th2 balance can be measured by cytokine profile. TNF-α is associated with inflammatory responses while IL-10 inhibits mechanisms which prevent tissue damage caused by the intense inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the TNF-α and IL-10 serum levels in naturally infected dogs by Ehrlichia spp.Material, Methods & Results: Twenty five dogs, both sexes, one to eight years old, weighing 5 to 40 kg, undefined breed were divided in two groups: Control (CT, n = 14) and naturally infected by Ehrlichia spp. dogs (EH, n = 11). Naturally infected dogs were from Zoonosis Control Center. Ehrlichia spp. morulae was visualized in bone marrow aspirates. Blood samples were collected for hematological analysis and serum dosages of TNF-α and IL-10 (commercial kits by sandwich ELISA). The frequency of clinical signs was expressed as percentage. T test, Spearman correlation and linear regression were used when necessary (P ≤ 0.05). Alopecia (45%), generalized lymphadenopathy (36%), onychogryphosis (27%) and conjunctivitis (27%) were the most frequent clinical signs in the EH group. No difference was found between studied groups in hematological and biochemical parameters. TNF-α concentration was 43.3 ± 16.9 pg/mL in CT and 41.1 ± 3.8 pg/mL in EH, while IL-10 concentration was 20.2 ± 8.4 pg/mL in CT and 21.0 ± 5.1 pg/mL in EH.[...](AU)
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