Applications of quantitative serum Neopterin determination in dogs affected by leishmaniasis – preliminary study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible correlations between Neopterin serum values and immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) titers in dogs positive for Leishmania infantum, and to provide further reference values for Neopterin in seronegative patients. Neopterin has been determined in 74 dogs, 30 of which where clinically healthy, seronegative and without any particular laboratory abnormalities for the tested parameters, while the remaining 44 were positive to IFAT. The heterogeneous results obtained for Neopterin values in seronegative dogs in the present study did not allow inferring reference limits in those subjects, but some of the correlations between Neopterin and IFAT titers in seropositive ones encourage further studies on that matter, possibly comparing the molecule values with other traditional markers of infection/disease. The present paper represents a possible preliminary step towards the use of serum Neopterin values as a biomarker in dogs affected by leishmaniasis.