Histological changes and immunolabeling of Leishmania infantum in kidneys and urinary bladder of dogs

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria 2013-07, Vol.22 (3), p.420-423
• Main Authors: dos Santos, Jamile Prado, Alves, Leucio Câmara, Ramos, Rafael Antonio Nascimento, Pimentel, Danillo de Souza, de Carvalho, Gílcia Aparecida, Monteiro, Maria Fernanda Melo, Faustino, Maria Aparecida da Gloria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cystitis - parasitology; Cystitis - pathology; Cystitis - veterinary; Dogs - parasitology; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous - parasitology; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous - pathology; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous - veterinary; Immunohistochemistry; Kidney - parasitology; Kidney - pathology; Leishmania infantum - immunology; Leishmania infantum - isolation & purification; Urinary Bladder - parasitology; Urinary Bladder - pathology
• ISSN: 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612013000300017

The aim of this study was to assess histological alterations and perform immunolabeling of Leishmania infantum in the kidneys and urinary bladder of naturally infected dogs. Twenty-five urinary bladder and kidney samples of serologically positive animals (ELISA S7® Biogene and IFAT ≥ 1:40 - Biomanguinhos/Fiocruz) were analyzed by means of immunohistochemical and histological techniques. Cystitis was found in 44% (11/25) of the bladder samples and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in 92% (23/25) of the kidney samples. Immunolabeling of the parasite revealed that 32% (8/25) of the bladders and 8% (2/25) of the kidneys were positive. In conclusion, the immunohistochemical technique is a useful tool for detecting amastigote forms of L. infantum in organs of infected dogs. In addition, this was the first report of detection of amastigote forms of L. infantum in the bladders of dogs.