Detection of Anti-LeishmaniaImmunoglobulin G Antibodies in Urine Specimens of Dogs with Leishmaniasis

Abstract

For years, anti-Leishmania immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies have been detected in the sera of dogs living in areas of leishmaniasis endemicity. They have also been found in the aqueous humor and cerebrospinal fluid. In contrast, a review of the literature failed to identify the detection of anti-Leishmania antibodies in urine samples from dogs with leishmaniasis. Ninety-five dog urine samples were examined for the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies by using a protein A enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Twenty additional urine samples were collected from healthy dogs as controls. An IgG2 ELISA was performed on 26 urine samples found positive by the protein A ELISA. Twenty-three urine samples found positive to anti-Leishmania antibodies were tested for the local production of anti-Leishmania antibodies in the urinary tract by means of the urine antibody coefficient. Ten urine samples (and the corresponding serum samples) were compared by Western blot (WB) analysis. Thirty-five out of the 95 urine samples were found positive, 57 were found negative, and 3 were found inconclusive for antibody detection by the protein A ELISA. A high correlation between protein A and IgG2 levels was found in positive urine samples. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were present in the urine of dogs that had leishmaniasis, urinary protein/creatinine (U P/C) ratios of greater than one, and normal urinary sediment. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the U P/C ratios and the levels of anti-Leishmania antibodies in positive urine samples. In general, WB analysis and the urine antibody coefficient suggested that the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies in urine was the consequence of an impairment of filtration of the glomerular barrier. However, in some dogs, WB analysis could be interpreted as suggesting that the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies was caused, to a lesser extent, by local antibody production in the urinary tract. Antibody detection in urine could be a noninvasive method for leishmaniasis diagnosis and prognosis in dogs with glomerulonephropathies.Canine leishmaniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum, is a severe systemic disease highly prevalent in the Mediterranean basin. Clinical manifestations of the disease include nonpruritic skin lesions, such as exfoliative dermatitis and ulcerations; local or generalized lymphadenopathy; loss of weight; poor appetite; ocular lesions; epistaxis; lameness; renal failure; and diarrhea (8,12,21,36). Dogs with leishmaniasis have high anti-Leishmania immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels in sera (23), and clinicopathological findings include anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, hypercreatinemia, and proteinuria (22).In the vast majority of cases, the fatal course of canine leishmaniasis is due to renal involvement (5, 32). The major renal lesion in canine (32) and human (7, 11) leishmaniasis is glomerulonephritis. However, interstitial nephritis, tubular nephropathy, and glomerular amyloidosis in conjunction with glomer...

Evaluation of rk39 immunochromatographic test with urine for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis

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“…However, obtaining blood can be difficult in the prevailing field conditions especially in children. Moreover, it has been reported that kidney impairment occur during the acute infection with leishmania and antibodies have been detected in urine in patients with VL 9, 10, 11 . The high sensitivity and specificity of rk39 serology with strip format and presence of immunoglobulin in the urine encouraged us to use urine, which can be acquired non-invasively and easy to obtain, for the diagnosis of Kala-azar.…”

Evaluation of rK-39 Strip Test Using Urine for Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in an Endemic Region of India

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Teste de ELISA indireto para diagnóstico sorológico de leishmaniose visceral em canídeos silvestres

“…adsorvidos na fase sólida . Esta proteína possui uma boa afinidade com IgG de diferentes espécies de mamíferos silvestres e exóticos (Kelly et al 1993, Stöbel et al 2002, Solano-Gallego et al 2003, Lima et al 2005.…”