Serum proteome of dogs at subclinical and clinical onset of canine leishmaniosis

The objective of this study was to identify changes in serum proteome in dogs that may occur after an experimental infection at subclinical and clinical stages of canine leishmaniosis (CanL). For this purpose, canine pre- and post-infection with Leishmania infantum serum proteomes in the same dogs were analysed by a high-throughput label-based quantitative LC-MS/MS proteomic approach. A total of 169 proteins were identified, and 74 of them including complement C8 alpha chain, adiponectin, transferrin, sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase acid-like 3A and immunoglobulins showed different modulation between the different stages of CanL. These proteins could be considered as potential serum biomarkers of early diagnostic or disease progression in CanL. Additionally, biological pathways modulated during CanL such as blood coagulation or gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor were revealed, which could help to understand the pathological mechanisms of the disease.