Ki. Tanaka et Rb. Atwell, IMMUNOHISTOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON PULMONARY TISSUES FROM DOGS INFECTED WITH DIROFILARIA-IMMITIS, Veterinary research communications, 17(2), 1993, pp. 109-117
Pulmonary tissues from non-infected dogs, naturally Dirofilaria immiti
s-infected dogs and experimentally infected puppies, selectively necro
psied after infection, were assessed using peroxidase-antiperoxidase (
PAP) staining technology. Sequential sections of pulmonary tissue were
PAP stained with anti-fresh D. immitis serum, anti-paraffin processed
D. immitis serum, anti-dog immunoglobulin (IgG, IgG Fc, IgM) sera and
anti-dog complement (C3) serum, and examined for antibody, complement
and for D. immitis antigen. The extent of alveolar septal thickening
was positively correlated with infection status. Cellular infiltration
was most evident surrounding obstructed areas where D. immitis were i
n situ. Antigenic material (microfilariae, eggs, fragmented filariae)
labelled by PAP was identified in the pulmonary arteries, alveolar cap
illaries and alveolar septa. Deposits of complement and IgG, presumabl
y associated with immune complex formation, were also observed in some
of the infected dogs. Identification of antigen, antibodies and compl
ement associated with alveolar septal pathology suggested that immune
mechanisms were active in its development.