The Ibizian hound presents a predominantly cellular immune response against natural Leishmania infection

Veterinarians working in the Balearic Islands (Mallorca), an endemic region of canine leishmaniosis, have reported very few cases of leishmaniosis in Ibizian hounds while concurrently observing that dogs of other breeds had a high incidence of clinical canine leishmaniosis. To further investigate th is observation, two populations of dogs from the Balearic Islands were exam ined for the presence of Leishmania-specific cellular immunity using a dela yed type hypersensitivity test (DTH) to leishmanin and for the presence of Leishmania-specific humoral immunity using an ELISA. Fifty-six asymptomatic dogs, 31 Ibizian hounds and 25 dogs belonging to other breeds were examine d. Seventy-seven percent of the dogs demonstrated a specific immune respons e against Leishmania, either humoral or cellular. This finding suggests tha t the infection rate (77%) was higher than previously considered. For Ibizi an hounds 81% were DTH positive while only 48% of the other dogs were DTH p ositive. A statistical association between Ibizian hounds and positive DTH response was found. A specific humoral response was found in 48% of Ibizian hounds and in 56% of the other dogs. No statistical association relative t o the Leishmania-specific IgG1 and IgG2 levels were found between the two g roups. The Ibizian hound has been reported to be more resistant to Leishman ia infection and we found that the Ibizian hound mounts a significant cellu lar response to infection. Thus, the Ibizian hound may be an interesting ca nine model for the investigation of protective anti-Leishmania immune respo nse. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.