Humoral and T-Cell-Mediated Immunity Against <i>Phlebotomus perniciosus</i> Salivary Proteins in Dogs from a Leishmaniosis-Endemic Area
Compounds in sand fly saliva elicit specific immune responses that may play a role in the establishment of canine <i>Leishmania</i> infection. Although canine antibodies to anti-sand fly saliva antigens have been extensively studied, little is known about cellular immune responses agains...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/6/576 |
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| Summary: | Compounds in sand fly saliva elicit specific immune responses that may play a role in the establishment of canine <i>Leishmania</i> infection. Although canine antibodies to anti-sand fly saliva antigens have been extensively studied, little is known about cellular immune responses against <i>Phlebotomus perniciosus</i> salivary proteins. This study aimed to explore humoral and T-cell-mediated immunity against <i>P. perniciosus</i> salivary proteins in dogs (n = 85) from Mallorca (Spain), a leishmaniosis-endemic area, and find correlations with demographic (age, sex, and breed) and parasite-specific immunological parameters. Anti-sand fly saliva IgG was examined using a <i>P. perniciosus</i> whole salivary gland homogenate (SGH) ELISA and recombinant salivary protein rSP03B ELISA. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release whole blood assays with <i>L. infantum</i> soluble antigen (LSA), SGH, and rSP03B were also performed. Positive correlations were found between IgG levels in the SGH and rSP03B tests and between concentrations of SGH IFN-γ and rSP03B IFN-γ. While concentrations of SGH IFN-γ and rSP03B IFN-γ were low and produced only by a minority of dogs (less than 20%), high levels and frequencies of LSA IFN-γ as well as anti-saliva IgG for SGH and rSP03B were detected in a majority of dogs (61% and 75%, respectively). LSA IFN-γ levels were positively correlated with age and <i>Leishmania</i>-specific antibodies. In conclusion, dogs from a leishmaniosis-endemic area presented high humoral immunity against <i>P. perniciosus</i> salivary proteins, but their cellular immunity to these proteins was low and less frequent. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-0817 |