Canine Leishmaniasis Progression is Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency

Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 13;7(1):3346. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03662-4.

Abstract

The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of suffering from a plethora of health disorders, ranging from autoimmune processes to infectious diseases has been widely described. Nonetheless, the potential role of vitamin D in visceral leishmaniasis remains uncharacterized. In the Mediterranean basin, where the dog is leishmania's main peri-domestic reservoir, control measures against the canine disease have shown beneficial effects on the incidence of human leishmaniasis. In this study, we measured the vitamin D levels in serum samples from a cohort of 68 healthy and disease dogs from a highly endemic area and we have also studied the relationship of these levels with parasitological and immunological parameters. The sick dogs presented significantly lower (P < 0.001) vitamin D levels (19.6 ng/mL) than their non-infected (31.8 ng/mL) and the asymptomatic counterparts (29.6 ng/mL). In addition, vitamin D deficiency correlated with several parameters linked to leishmaniasis progression. However, there was no correlation between vitamin D levels and the Leishmania-specific cellular immune response. Moreover, both the leishmanin skin test and the IFN-γ levels displayed negative correlations with serological, parasitological and clinical signs. Further studies to determine the functional role of vitamin D on the progression and control of canine leishmaniasis are needed.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dog Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Leishmania / immunology
  • Leishmaniasis / epidemiology*
  • Leishmaniasis / veterinary
  • Male
  • Serologic Tests
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / veterinary

Substances

  • Vitamin D