Scholarlink

Background <p>Canine leishmaniosis caused by <i>Leishmania infantum</i> remains a major zoonotic concern in the Mediterranean basin, where native breeds may have evolved adaptive immune mechanisms under long-term endemic exposure. The Fonni dog, indigenous to Sardinia, may represent a model of such adaptation. This study aimed to compare cytokine and growth factor profiles between Fonni dogs and German Shepherd dogs exposed to <i>L. infantum</i> and other vector-borne pathogens, to investigate potential breed-associated immune regulatory patterns.</p> Methods <p>Fifty-nine clinically healthy dogs (Fonni and German Shepherds) living in endemic areas were included. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Leptospira spp., Leishmania infantum, and Rickettsia</i> spp. Concentrations of eleven cytokines and growth factors were measured using a multiplex bead-based immunoassay. Statistical analyses evaluated differences between breeds, associations with serological status and age, as well as correlation matrices and principal component analysis to explore clustering patterns among immune mediators.</p> Results <p>Fonni dogs showed significantly higher serum concentrations of IL-10, NGF-β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and VEGF-α compared with German Shepherds. Seropositive dogs for L. infantum and Rickettsia spp. exhibited increased levels of IL-10, NGF-β, and TNF-α. Age influenced cytokine expression, with young Fonni dogs displaying the highest IL-10 and NGF-β values, whereas TNF-α and MCP-1 concentrations increased with age. Correlation and principal component analyses revealed distinct breed-specific clustering, highlighting coordinated regulation of pro-inflammatory and angiogenic mediators, particularly IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, and VEGF-α.</p> Conclusions <p>The elevated levels of several cytokines and growth factors in Fonni dogs suggest a breed-associated immune phenotype characterized by a regulatory/pro-inflammatory balance consistent with a tolerance-like response under endemic exposure. These findings support the hypothesis that native breeds such as the Fonni dog may have developed adaptive immunological mechanisms that limit immunopathology while maintaining effective responses in areas endemic for canine vector-borne pathogens.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Breed-specific immune regulation under endemic exposure to Leishmania infantum and other vector-borne pathogens in a native Mediterranean canine population

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月9日

查看全文
  • Lola Martínez-Sáez,
  • Pablo Jesús Marín-García,
  • Raffaella Cocco,
  • Luigi Liotta,
  • Lola Llobat

摘要

Background

Canine leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum remains a major zoonotic concern in the Mediterranean basin, where native breeds may have evolved adaptive immune mechanisms under long-term endemic exposure. The Fonni dog, indigenous to Sardinia, may represent a model of such adaptation. This study aimed to compare cytokine and growth factor profiles between Fonni dogs and German Shepherd dogs exposed to L. infantum and other vector-borne pathogens, to investigate potential breed-associated immune regulatory patterns.

Methods

Fifty-nine clinically healthy dogs (Fonni and German Shepherds) living in endemic areas were included. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Leptospira spp., Leishmania infantum, and Rickettsia spp. Concentrations of eleven cytokines and growth factors were measured using a multiplex bead-based immunoassay. Statistical analyses evaluated differences between breeds, associations with serological status and age, as well as correlation matrices and principal component analysis to explore clustering patterns among immune mediators.

Results

Fonni dogs showed significantly higher serum concentrations of IL-10, NGF-β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and VEGF-α compared with German Shepherds. Seropositive dogs for L. infantum and Rickettsia spp. exhibited increased levels of IL-10, NGF-β, and TNF-α. Age influenced cytokine expression, with young Fonni dogs displaying the highest IL-10 and NGF-β values, whereas TNF-α and MCP-1 concentrations increased with age. Correlation and principal component analyses revealed distinct breed-specific clustering, highlighting coordinated regulation of pro-inflammatory and angiogenic mediators, particularly IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, and VEGF-α.

Conclusions

The elevated levels of several cytokines and growth factors in Fonni dogs suggest a breed-associated immune phenotype characterized by a regulatory/pro-inflammatory balance consistent with a tolerance-like response under endemic exposure. These findings support the hypothesis that native breeds such as the Fonni dog may have developed adaptive immunological mechanisms that limit immunopathology while maintaining effective responses in areas endemic for canine vector-borne pathogens.

Graphical abstract