You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Lectins are sugar-binding proteins which recognise sugar-containing proteins (called glycoproteins) on the surface of microorganisms. They are now known to have an important role in identifying foreign material and in triggering an immune response. 

The most well known way in which an animals immune system neutralises invading pathogenic micororganisms is when the host produces antibodies which bind to surface antigens on the pathogen, and complement is released ..but this method of protection can be a relatively slow process requiring prior exposure to the organism and the development of active immunity, (except when an animal inherits passive immunity, such as via colostrum).

Lectins are now known to play an important role in the early detection of pathogenic organisms. It is thought that lectins (such as mannose-binding protein) activate complement when they bind to a glycoprotein - starting a pathway leading to the destruction of the organism in a similar way to C1q in the more traditional "adaptive" immune system. 

It has recently been demonstrated that children deficient in mannose-binding protein are prone to develop recurrent infections and it is possible that some animals with immunodeficiency may also have a problem with their lectins. 

Finally, many scientists believe that  research into how lectin receptors target their sugars (eg mannose)  may help in the development of novel vaccines.

Last updated : October 2013