title: Detection of circulating immune complexes in the sera of dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis, by Clq-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: The presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in the sera of dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis was detected by using a Clq-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Specificity of this assay with different concentrations of heat-aggravated canine IgG (ACG) was observed, i.e., the ELISA readings, expressed as microgram equivalents ACG/ml, increased with increasing amounts of ACG. The intra-assay variability was below 10%. The CIC levels of infected and uninfected dogs were 177.0 +/- 104.7 micrograms/ml and 22.8 +/- 45.8 micrograms/ml (mean +/- SD), respectively. The highest level was observed in 12 dogs with amicrofilaraemic infection. Age distribution of CIC levels in the 23 infected dogs also showed a significant positive correlation. These findings suggested that the CIC are present in the sera of dogs with dirofilariasis and may relate to canine glomerulonephritis.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D003166:Complement Activating Enzymes; D015922:Complement C1q; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015922:Complement C1q; D003166:Complement Activating Enzymes