Specific lgG1 and lgG2 antibody responses of dogs to Leishmania infantum and other parasites

Sera from dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum were analysed for the IgG subclass specificity of their antibody response by ELISA. Dogs infected with L. infantum produced both IgGl and IgG2 antibodies with IgG2 being associated with asymptomatic infections and IgGl being associated with disease (symptomatic dogs, non- or low-responsive to chemotherapy). The differential responses of IgG] and IgGl serum antibodies in asymptomatic and symptomatic dogs may indicate a dichotomous immune response to infection with L. infantum. To confirm this, on a broader scale, sera from dogs naturally exposed to an asymptomatic protozoan infection, Toxoplasma gondii, were also analysed as were sera from dogs exposed to the helminths, Dirofilaria immitis and Toxocara canis. Antibodies specific for T. gondii antigen detected in sera from 17 dogs were of the IgG2 subclass only. Both IgGl and IgG2 antibodies to D. immitis andl. canis were present in the sera of naturally infected dogs but IgGl appeared to be the predominant subclass. Furthermore, in dogs experimentally infected with T. canis, selective regulation ofIgG2 and IgGl responses was apparent since production of the two subclasses occurred at different times following infection, with IgGl levels declining as IgGl levels rose. Thus, the analysis of IgG subsets in parasitized dogs provides evidence of a dichotomous response to infection: IgGl is associated with asymptomatic protozoan infections and IgGl is associated with helminth infections and disease caused by protozoan infection.