| Abstract: |
Canine leishmaniosis can cause inflammation and renal disease that is considered the main cause of death in dogs with leishmaniosis. In the past, various biomarkers have been investigated to assess the severity of the disease and the response to anti- Leishmania treatment; however, the need for new markers remains. In the study, 30 dogs diagnosed with leishmaniosis were divided into different groups based on the degree of the disease and evaluated at diagnosis and after anti- Leishmania treatment. Parasite load in the bone marrow, blood, and urine, previously investigated, as well as new inflammatory and renal biomarkers were evaluated before and post-treatment. Treated dogs showed a significant decrease in the parasite load in the various tissues evaluated and a significant variation of various inflammatory and renal biomarkers. Among various biomarkers, a new one was identified and could be useful to monitor treatment response and to classify disease severity at the time of diagnosis. Various inflammatory and renal biomarkers have already been assessed for monitoring the response to anti-leishmanial therapy in canine leishmaniosis. This study assessed the parasite load, various inflammatory and renal biomarkers pre- and post-treatment, and any association between the studied variables and the degree of disease severity at diagnosis. This is a prospective cohort study of 30 client-owned dogs with leishmaniosis, classified according to LeishVet's guidelines as stage I (n = 2), stage IIa (n = 7), stage IIb (n = 6), stage III (n = 8), and stage IV (n = 7). In addition to Leishmania real-time PCR in the bone marrow, blood and urine, previously studied biomarkers, and several inflammatory and renal markers never investigated in canine leishmaniosis, such as fibrinogen, antithrombin, urinary fractional excretion of sodium, and urinary amylase-to-creatinine ratio were measured pre- and post-treatment (meglumine antimoniate or miltefosine + allopurinol). A positive Leishmania real-time PCR in the blood at diagnosis predicted a positive Leishmania real-time PCR in the bone marrow post-treatment (p = 0. 003). Following treatment, antithrombin and urinary amylase-to-creatinine ratio were significantly changed (p < 0. 001, respectively). Urinary amylase-to-creatinine ratio, total iron-binding capacity, and antithrombin were the variables most strongly associated with disease severity (p < 0. 005, respectively). Urinary amylase-to-creatinine ratio can be a useful marker to monitor treatment response and to classify the degree of disease severity. |
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(Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
