Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and parasite persistence in canine visceral leishmaniasis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24380163
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied veterinary science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: KATAKURA Ken 北海道大学, (連合)獣医学研究科, 教授 (10130155)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KATO Hirotomo 北海道大学, (連合)獣医学研究科, 准教授 (00346579)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAKIGUCHI Mitsuyoshi 北海道大学, (連合)獣医学研究科, 教授 (70261336) ; ATO Manabu 国立感染症研究所, 免疫部, 部長 (20392318)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 内臓リーシュマニア症 / Leishmania donovani / 血清診断 / PCR診断 / 犬 / 制御性Ｔ細胞 / 病態 / バングラデシュ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in humans in the Indian subcontinent is caused by infection with Leishmania donovani and the transmission is thought to be anthroponotic. The prevalence of L. donovani infection and the role of VL transmission in dogs have not been well investigated. The present epidemiological study showed that approximately 10% of stray dogs were serological or PCR positive in the blood in a VL endemic area in Bangladesh, but no severe clinical symptoms were observed. Experimental infection of beagle dogs with L. donovani showed that no remarkable changes were detected in clinical sings, hematological and serum biochemical values, and peripheral T lymphocyte subpopulations. Although these dogs were negative for PCR examinations, antibodies were detected during the experimental period. Taken together, the results suggest that dogs infected with L. donovani maintain the latent infection, but serve as the reservoir animal for the transmission of human VL.

Free Research Field

寄生虫学