title: Intradermal mitogen response in dogs: correlation with outcome of infection by canine distemper virus.
abstract: Gnotobiotic and conventional dogs of different ages were examined for intradermal skin test responses and in virtro peripheral blood lymphocyte responses to the phytomitogens, phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). All adult dogs skin tested with these mitogens demonstrated a positive skin reaction consisting of erythema and induration within 24 hours. In contrast, a positive reaction was obtained only with PHA-P when both mitogens were tested in conventional and gnotobiotic neonatal dogs. Lymphocytes from both adult and neonatal dogs underwent blastogenesis if cultured with PHA-P and PWM. Infection of gnotobiotic dogs with canine distemper virus (CDV) resulted in depression of PHA-P skin test response along with in vitro depression of lymphocyte blastogenesis. Persistent loss of skin test response correlated with eventual death due to CDV-associated encephalitis, whereas dogs which responded to PHA-P 14 to 21 days after viral inoculation survived CDV infection. The results of this study indicated that intradermal mitogen tests can be used as a rapid method for in vivo assessment of cell-mediated immunity in this species.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004216:Distemper / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000276:immunology*; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins