Immune-inflammatory response to infectious agents in the hepatic microenvironment of dogs and cats: a review

Abstract

The liver is an organ of high exposure to circulating antigens, and its environment is populated by innate immune cells that readily respond to invading agents. However, an immune response to infectious agents might trigger an imbalance in the mechanisms of tolerance, leading to a state of oxidative stress, which favors tissue damage and might cause systemic repercussions. It is worth noting that some parasitic diseases such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, clonorchiasis, heartworm disease, ehrlichiosis, histoplasmosis and platinossomiasis may cause dysregulation in oxidation mechanisms inducing hepatic alterations. In this sense, this review focuses on the cellular mechanisms of liver immune response in homeostasis and progression of hepatic disorders that are associated with immunopathogenesis of some parasitic diseases that affect dogs and cats.