title: Immunodiagnosis of autoimmune skin disease in the dog, cat and horse.
abstract: Skin biopsies from 47 dogs, 6 cats and 5 horses with suspected autoimmune skin disease were submitted for immunofluorescence from 1978 to 1985. These cases were predominantly Western Australian in origin, although a number were also referred from Queensland and Victoria. In 5 dogs, 2 cats and 2 horses immunoglobulin binding to intercellular cement substance and/or basement membrane was demonstrated by direct immunofluorescence. Antinuclear antibody was also demonstrated in several of these cases. Immunofluorescence was used in combination with histopathological examination to confirm the clinical diagnosis of autoimmune disease in 19/47 dogs, 4/6 cats and 2/5 horses. There was no age, breed or sex predisposition amongst the 19 positive dogs, however there was a higher incidence of antinuclear antibody (54%) than the normal canine population (10%) and other autoantibodies (rheumatoid factor) were sometimes present. Abnormalities in serum protein electrophoresis and serum complement C4 levels were also recorded in this group.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D003298:Coombs Test; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D003181:Complement C4; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor