Bronchoscopy and Lung Fine-Needle Aspiration for Antemortem Evaluation of Pulmonary Involvement in Dogs with Naturally Occurring Canine Leishmaniosis

Abstract

Clinical manifestations from the lower respiratory tract are rare in canine leishmaniosis (CanL), making bronchoscopy and lung fine-needle aspiration (FNA) seldomly justified. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the involvement of Leishmania infantum in the lungs of dogs with naturally occurring CanL by bronchoscopy and examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), bronchial mucosa biopsies, and FNA, using immunodiagnostics. Dogs with relevant concurrent diseases and azotemia were excluded. Cough was detected in 5/31 (16.1%) dogs. Lesions (hyperemia, edema, mucosal granularity, secretions) were identified upon bronchoscopy in 19/31 (61.3%) dogs. The cytology of BALF revealed histiocytic inflammation in 14/31 (45.2%) dogs; the parasite was identified in one dog (3.2%). The immunofluorescence antibody test in BALF was positive in 15/31 (48.4%) dogs. Histopathology of bronchial mucosa and/or adjacent alveoli revealed lesions (mononuclear cell infiltration, fibrosis, edema, thickening of the inter-alveolar septa) in 24/31 (77.4%) dogs, with no Leishmania amastigotes. Positive antigen staining was observed within the cytoplasm of mononuclear cells in immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Μononuclear cells showed antigenic positivity in bronchial mucosa (27/31; 87.1%), BALF (30/31; 96.8%), and lung FNA (27/31; 87.1%). In conclusion, lungs seem to be affected from CanL more commonly than previously believed, and bronchoscopy allows obtaining valuable samples for antemortem diagnosis.

Data Independent Acquisition Reveals In-Depth Serum Proteome Changes in Canine Leishmaniosis

“…The reduction of circulating levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin result in the increased risk of lung disease [ 48 ]. Accordingly, the pulmonary alterations and the inflammatory process defined as interstitial pneumonitis were reported in Leishmania- infected dogs, as well as the presence of amastigotes in canine lungs, which could support our findings [ 49 ].…”

Bronhoskopija i bronhoalveolarna lavaža u pasa i mačaka

“…Analysis of BAL fluid can be helpful in the diagnosis of some parasitic diseases. For example, Kavarnos et al (2022) found that cytology of BAL fluid revealed histiocytic inflammation in 14/31 (45.2%) dogs with Leishmania infantum where the parasite was identified in one dog (3.2%). The immunofluorescence antibody test in the BAL fluid was positive in 15/31 (48.4%) of dogs examined.…”