Histopathological features, parasite density and cell phenotype of the popliteal lymph node in canine visceral leishmaniasis.

Abstract

While enlargement of popliteal lymph nodes (LN) is frequently described in canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), there are few histopathologic studies of lymph nodes during this chronic immunopathological condition.Besides a detailed histopathologic analysis, we have characterized the parasite load andmajor immunophenotypic features of theLNin Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi-infected dogs. Our major histopathological findings highlight that hypertrophy/hyperplasia of LN cortical and medullary zones was the principal characteristic observed in asymptomatic dogs (AD), whereas atrophy of LN cortical zone was predominant in symptomatic animals (SD). The LN parasite density detected by anti-Leishmania immunohistochemical assay or expressed as Leishman Donovan Units was also highly correlated with the skin parasitism, the most reliable parameter to decode the clinical status of CVL. The major LN immunophenotypic changes during ongoing CVL were an increased frequency of T-lymphocytes, particularly CD8+ T-cells, upregulation of MHC-II expression by lymphocytes and decreased levels of CD21+ B-cells. Our findings further demonstrated that changes in the LNB-lymphocyte compartment exhibited a negative correlation with the skin parasite load. Conversely, we also showed evidence for a positive association between skin parasitismandLNT-cell-mediated immunity, suggesting thatT-cells, especiallyCD8+ lymphocytes, may have a Type-2 immunological profile in this lymphoid tissue in response to CVL.