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. 2024 Dec 6;12(12):2516.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12122516.

Enhanced Production of IL-10 in PCR-Positive Dogs Infected with E. canis and A. phagocytophilum Facilitate Specific Immune Responses

Iskren Stanilov  1 , Krasimira Gospodinova  2 , Vladimir Petrov  3 , Lyuba Miteva  4 , Ilia Tsachev  3 , Spaska Stanilova  4
Affiliations

Enhanced Production of IL-10 in PCR-Positive Dogs Infected with E. canis and A. phagocytophilum Facilitate Specific Immune Responses

Iskren Stanilov et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

Infection of dogs with the tick-borne rickettsiae Ehrlichia and Anaplasma provokes an immune response mediating the pathology and bacterial resistance. IL-10 is the main anti-inflammatory cytokine and plays a multifaceted role in host protection. The study aimed to investigate circulating IL-10 in 32 dogs naturally infected with A. phagocytophilum and E. canis, identified by PCR positivity, and 33 PCR-negative animals which tested positive for antibodies against these pathogens, as well as 22 healthy animals. The highest quantity of IL-10, measured by ELISA, was observed among dogs positive simultaneously for anti-E. canis and anti-A. phagocytophilum IgG antibodies, followed by dogs positive for anti-E. canis only. The concentration of IL-10 in PCR-positive dogs was almost three and a half times higher than that measured in the control group (77.09 ± 23.61 pg./mL vs. 21.55 ± 4.61 pg./mL; p = 0.0015) and five times higher than the concentration of interleukin in PCR-negative animals (77.09 ± 23.61 pg./mL vs. 14.86 ± 3.01 pg./mL; p = 0.000016). The highest level of IL-10 was observed in PCR-positive dogs with mixed infection (120.54 ± 44.18), followed by the level in PCR-positive dogs for E. canis only (78.81 ± 16.92). The lowest level of IL-10 was observed in PCR-positive dogs for A. phagocytophilum only (56.32 ± 12.68). We may suggest that infection with E. canis and A. phagocytophilum stimulates the IL-10 production in dogs, which may facilitate specific antibody responses.

Keywords: A. phagocytophilum; Anaplasma; Anaplasmataceae; E. canis; Ehrlichia; IL-10; antibody synthesis; cytokine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The quantity of IL-10 in dog plasma depends on the presence of tick-borne infection, detected by PCR assay with primers specific for the Anaplasmataceae family. PCR (+) animals are positive by both PCR and SNAP tests. PCR (−) animals are positive by SNAP test only. The control group includes healthy animals, negative by both tests used.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The quantity of IL-10 in dog plasma from the three groups depends on the presence of E. canis infection detected by PCR assay (p = 0.001; KW). E. canis (+) animals are positive by both PCR and SNAP tests. E. canis (−) animals are negative by PCR test, but positive by SNAP test. The control group included healthy animals negative by both tests used. Outliers (°) and extremes (*) are presented.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The quantity of IL-10 in dog plasma from the three groups depends on the presence of A. phagocytophilum detected by PCR assay (p = 0.013; KW). A. phagocytophilum (+) animals are positive by both PCR and SNAP tests. A. phagocytophilum (−) animals are negative by PCR test, but positive by SNAP test. The control group included healthy animals, negative by both tests used. Outliers (°) and extremes (*) are presented.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The quantity of IL-10 in dog plasma depends on the presence of E. canis alone; A. phagocytophilum alone and mixed infection detected by PCR assay (p < 0.001; KW). PCR (−) animals are positive by SNAP test only. The control group included healthy animals, negative by both tests used. Outliers (°) and extremes (*) are presented.
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