Volume 14, Issue 1 (Special Issue: Leishmania 2026)
Res Mol Med (RMM) 2026, 14(1): 0-0 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Asghari S, Kami M, Zivdari N, Abedi M, Sabeti F. Innate Immune Responses to Leishmania in Dogs and Cats: Mechanisms of Evasion and Host Defense. Res Mol Med (RMM) 2026; 14 (1)
URL: http://rmm.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-626-en.html
URL: http://rmm.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-626-en.html
1- Department of Clinical Sciences, Bab.C., Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran.
2- The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran ,m.kami@mazums.ac.ir
3- Undergraduate DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
4- Undergraduate DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
5- Undergraduate DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
2- The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran ,
3- Undergraduate DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
4- Undergraduate DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
5- Undergraduate DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Abstract: (18 Views)
Background: Leishmaniasis is an infection transmitted by arthropod vectors and is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Primarily, dogs function as reservoirs. Emerging evidence points to cats as secondary hosts. This study aimed to review innate immune responses and parasite evasion mechanisms in canine and feline leishmaniasis.
Methods: This narrative review synthesized peer-reviewed studies on innate immune responses to Leishmania infection in dogs and cats, identified through searches of major biomedical databases (including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) from 1990 to 2025. Eligible articles reported immunological data on innate cells, cytokine profiles, or parasite evasion; non-English publications, case reports, and studies without immune outcomes were excluded. Key findings were qualitatively integrated to compare species-specific responses and associated clinical outcomes.
Results: Dogs with progressive disease show mixed Th1-Th2 responses, with IL-10 and TGF-β promoting parasite persistence. Cats more often exhibit dominant Th1 responses, with elevated IL-12 and IFN-γ correlating with greater suppression of parasite growth and subclinical infection. Leishmania evades immunity by inhibiting phagolysosome maturation, modulating Toll-like receptor signaling, and suppressing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Cats display lower antibody production than dogs, contributing to their resistance; however, co-infections with retroviruses increase feline susceptibility. -12/IFN-γ-inducing vaccines and therapies targeting IL-10/TGF-β pathways show potential.
Conclusion: Distinct innate immune responses shape disease outcomes in dogs and cats, necessitating tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and inclusion of feline leishmaniasis in One Health surveillance.
Methods: This narrative review synthesized peer-reviewed studies on innate immune responses to Leishmania infection in dogs and cats, identified through searches of major biomedical databases (including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) from 1990 to 2025. Eligible articles reported immunological data on innate cells, cytokine profiles, or parasite evasion; non-English publications, case reports, and studies without immune outcomes were excluded. Key findings were qualitatively integrated to compare species-specific responses and associated clinical outcomes.
Results: Dogs with progressive disease show mixed Th1-Th2 responses, with IL-10 and TGF-β promoting parasite persistence. Cats more often exhibit dominant Th1 responses, with elevated IL-12 and IFN-γ correlating with greater suppression of parasite growth and subclinical infection. Leishmania evades immunity by inhibiting phagolysosome maturation, modulating Toll-like receptor signaling, and suppressing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Cats display lower antibody production than dogs, contributing to their resistance; however, co-infections with retroviruses increase feline susceptibility. -12/IFN-γ-inducing vaccines and therapies targeting IL-10/TGF-β pathways show potential.
Conclusion: Distinct innate immune responses shape disease outcomes in dogs and cats, necessitating tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and inclusion of feline leishmaniasis in One Health surveillance.
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Contact Information
