immunology of infectious and parasitic diseases - XXXVII Congress ...

IMMUNE RESPONSE TO LUTZOMYIA INTERMEDIA SALIVA IN
HOUSEHOLDS CONTACTS OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS PATIENTS
AUGUSTO MARCELINO PEDREIRA DE CARVALHO (1) ; JUQUELINE R.
CRISTAL (1) ; JOSÉ CARLOS MIRANDA (1) ; EDNALDO LAGO (2) ; ALDINA
BARRAL (1) ; EDGAR M CARVALHO (2) ; CAMILA I DE OLIVEIRA (1)
(1) Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Muniz, FIOCRUZ, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil;
(2) Serviço de Imunologia, Complexo Universitário Professor Edgard Santos,
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil.
Introduction: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a disease caused by protozoa
of genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bites of infected sand flies.
Previous studies showed that pre-exposure to Lutzomyia intermedia saliva, the
main vector of Leishmania braziliensis in Brazil, resulted in a large cellular
recruitment, modulation of the inflammatory response induced by parasite and
enhancement of Leishmania infection, in mice. In humans, evidence of humoral
immunological response to salivary gland sonicate (SGS) was higher in CL
patients than individuals with asymptomatic L. braziliensis infection. We
hypothesized exposure to sand flies saliva influences the outcome of L.
braziliensis infection, in residents of an endemic area for CL. Methods and
Results: Individuals (N=264) living in the endemic area of Corte de Pedra,
Bahia, were evaluated regarding serology and cellular immune response to
SGS. Anti-SGS antibodies were found in 150 (56.8%) individuals and higher
antibody titers were found in younger (