Neutrophil properties in healthy and Leishmania infantum-naturally infected dogs.

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis is a chronic disease that afects humans and dogs as well. Dogs, the domestic reservoir of Leishmania, play a central role in the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis, the most severe form of this disease. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in blood and interact with the parasite after infection. Here, we evaluate the efector properties of neutrophils from healthy and naturally Leishmania infantum-infected dogs. Our results showed that the parasite induced neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release from neutrophils in both groups. Additionally, phagocytosis and NETs contributed diferently to parasite killing by neutrophils from healthy and infected animals, and IFN-γ, IL-8, IL-4 and TNF-α production by neutrophils from both groups were diferentially modulated by the parasite. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the complex role played by neutrophils in canine visceral leishmaniasis, which may favor the development of more efective therapies.