Management of dietary hypersensitivity in the dog

Dietary hypersensitivity is an uncommon condition which can result in a variety of dermato-logical and gastrointestinal signs. The major emphasis in management is on elimination of the causative agent from the diet. Correct diagnosis and implication of the offending allergen are prerequisites for optimal therapy. If this proves impossible, or if multiple sensitivities preclude formulation of an appropriate diet, corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory agents must be employed and are variably effective.     

Effects of hormonal therapy on the microbiology of seborrheic dogs.

Quantitative and qualitative bacterial assays were performed on the skin of three dogs with endocrine-related primary metabolic seborrhea. After the dogs were treated (thyroid supplementation or castration, bacterial analyses were again performed on the same sites. Before therapy, the dogs had a cutaneous flora composed mainly of Staphylococcus aureus coagulase-positive organisms. After therapy, there was a significantly lower bacterial count, and two of the dogs had floras consisting mainly of coagulase-negative cocci. During the study, the two dogs that reverted bacteriologically to a normal cutaneous microenvironment became normal dermatologically. The third dog improved, but continued to have minor signs of seborrhea.     

Total hemolytic complement values in normal and diseased dog populations

The optimum conditions for handling and storage of canine sera for total hemolytic complement assays were assessed. Sera from 113 normal dogs and 217 clinical admissions to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital were assayed for total hemolytic complement levels. Normal sera had a mean value of 185 CH50 units. Sera from animals with systemic lupus erythematosus and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, had significantly lower mean levels of complement than the normal group. Sera from dogs with generalized demodectic mange, tumors, various inflammatory diseases, hypothyroidism, seborrhea, and rheumatoid arthritis had values significantly higher than the normal population.     

Clostridium fallax infection in poultry

Summary A disease causing high mortality in young chickens following listlessness, inappetence and diarrhoea is described from Malawi. Haemorrhagic enteritis, splenic enlargement and congestion with petechial haemorrhages, and subcutaneous oedema were seen at post mortem.Clostridium fallax was isolated from affected birds. Coccidiosis was a possible predisposing factor.     

Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to Psoroptes ovis and Der p 1 in sheep previously infested with P. ovis--the sheep scab mite

We have previously shown that infestation with Psoroptes ovis induces an IgE response and intense tissue eosinophilia, typical of a Type I hypersensitivity response [Parasite Immunol. 22 (2000) 407]. Intradermal tests (IDSTs) suggest that there are also delayed and Arthus-type responses to this parasite. In order to study the nature of ovine cutaneous reactions to P. ovis, na?ve controls and experimentally infested sheep (n = 5) were challenged intradermally with mite antigen. Challenge elicited immediate (P < 0.001) and delayed (P < 0.005) wheal reactions in sensitised sheep. At 6 (P < 0.02) and 30 h (P < 0.001) the predominant infiltrating cells were eosinophils. To explore the role of circulating antibodies, na?ve sheep (n = 5) were subjected to Prausnitz-Kustner (PK) tests. These elicited immediate (P < 0.02) but not delayed wheal reactions. At 6 h eosinophils (P < 0.001) dominated the infiltrate. These results suggest that P. ovis allergens provoke an IgE-dependent immediate and late phase response and a cell-mediated eosinophil-rich delayed-type hypersensitivity response (ER-DTH).     

Identification of major allergens of Malassezia pachydermatis in dogs with atopic dermatitis and Malassezia overgrowth

Abstract We have previously shown that both atopic and normal dogs generate an IgG response to antigens of Malassezia pachydermatis . The aim of this study was to compare IgE responses to separated proteins of M. pachydermatis in 28 atopic dogs with Malassezia dermatitis and 22 clinically normal dogs using Western immunoblotting. Six different detection systems were evaluated in order to assess sensitivity and eliminate nonspecific binding and cross-reactivity. The protocol yielding the best results utilized a monoclonal mouse antidog IgE, an alkaline phosphatase conjugated goat antimouse IgG which had been passed through a canine IgG column 3 times, a chemiluminescent substrate and a digital imaging system. Proteins of 45, 52, 56 and 63 kDa were recognized by more than 50% of the atopic dog sera and thus represented major allergens. Only a minority of normal dogs showed faint IgE binding to these proteins. The results indicate that the majority of atopic dogs with Malassezia dermatitis have a greater IgE response than normal dogs, suggesting an IgE-mediated immune response may be clinically important in the pathogenesis of the disease.     

Induced and spontaneous IgE antibodies to Dermatophagoides farinae in dogs and cats: evidence of functional heterogeneity of IgE

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed to measure IgE antibodies specific for Dermatophagoides farinae in dogs and cats. Although higher levels were detected in atopic dogs and cats than in normal animals without skin disease, the differences were not statistically significant. On the other hand, levels in dogs and cats that were reared under laboratory conditions, and thus presumably not exposed to house dust mites, were either very low or undetectable. IgE antibodies were induced in 10 laboratory-reared cats using low-dose antigenic stimulation in aluminium hydroxide. All cats developed detectable IgE, but not all developed positive skin tests. However, serum from those cats with positive skin tests were able to give positive Prausnitz–Küstner (PK) tests. The canine data, together with previous work on basophil histamine release, suggests that the distinction between atopic and normal dogs may result from a heterogeneity of either IgE or of the high-affinity mast cell receptor. The feline data can only be explained by the existence of a heterogeneity of IgE.     

The induction and kinetics of an anti-DNP IgE response in dogs

Twenty-eight dogs immunized to dinitrophenol-ascaris (DNP-ASC) at birth and then three times at two week intervals produced serum anti-DNP antibody. The IgM response was detected one week after primary immunization and lasted for up to five weeks. The IgE and IgG antibody response in general was not present until week three but persisted through the immunization schedule. Although variation in the level and duration of the antibody response was detected between individual dogs, each dog did have a response that included all three isotypes examined.