New  research suggests that dogs with moderate or strong positive anti-histone antibodies reactions may have a higher probability to develop glomerular lesions in canine leishmaniasis.

Dr. Pedro J. Ginel and colleagues studied 43 dogs with leishmaniasis (infection with Leishmania infantum) to evaluate the association between serum anti-histone antibodies and glomerulonephritis. Twenty-five dogs had increased serum creatinine levels and an urine protein-creatinine ratio above 1. These animals were considered to have glomerulonephritis.

The team found moderately elevated anti-histone antibodies in 38.89% of infected dogs without glomerulonephritis, whereas 88% of dogs with glomerulonephritis showed moderate or strongly elevated anti-histone antibodies.

Furthermore “the prevalence of positive anti-histone antibodies reactions and mean serum concentration was significantly higher in infected dogs with glomerulonephritis,” Ginel’s team notes in Research in Veterinary Science. .

When they analysed both groups together, the correlation between anti-histone antibodies and urine protein-creatinine ratio was significant, the researchers add. The positive predictive value for glomerulonephritis of positive anti-histone antibodies was 88%.

Ginel and associates conclude that high anti-histone antibodies are significantly associated with glomerulonephritis. They add: “Although other factors must be involved, dogs with moderate or strong positive anti-histone antibodies reactions may have a higher probability to develop glomerular lesions in canine leishmaniasis.”

References

• Research in Veterinary Science, Volume 85, Issue 3, December 2008, Pages 510-514