Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis: Immunoblotting analysis for the detection of IgG subclasses in the diagnosis of symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs

During a seroepidemiological survey 2004–2006 from areas in Brazil endemic for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), serum samples from 10 dogs with ulcerated cutaneous lesions (S-ACL) and 52 asymptomatic dogs (AS-ACL) of unknown age and breed living in areas endemic for ACL were monitored for 1 year for ulcerated cutaneous lesions and immunoblotting using peroxidase-conjugated secondary anti-IgG, anti-IgG1 and anti-IgG2 dog antibodies. We reported that antibodies against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in the sera of 22/52 dogs with asymptomatic disease showed intense reactivity to peptides larger than 66 kDa. We believe that dogs harboring subclinical amastigotes show an immunoblotting profile similar to that of symptomatic animals because a dog with self-healing presented antigens greater than 66 kDa. Such patterns can be exploited for diagnostic and epidemiological research for leishmaniasis.