Renal Inflammatory Response and Apoptosis in Canine Visceral Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis

The pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is associated with altered chemokine expression and impaired migration of inflammatory cells. Apoptosis is associated with resolution of inflammation. However in kidneys of dogs infected with Leishmania infantum apoptosis seems to act as a marker of inflammatory activity rather than as a resolution event in contrast to inflammatory recruitment. This book addresses aspects related to characterizing and quantifying some molecules related to apoptosis and inflammation; and correlating these findings with clinical symptomatology and with the renal histopathological lesions caused by L. infantum in naturally infected dogs.