Morphometric evaluation of immunoglobulin A-containing and immunoglobulin G-containing cells and T cells in duodenal mucosa from healthy dogs and from dogs with inflammatory bowel disease or nonspecific gastroenteritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution of IgA- and IgG-containing cells and T cells in the villi of duodenal mucosa from healthy dogs and from dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of gastroenteritis.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
28 dogs, grouped according to clinical and histologic criteria: 11 dogs with IBD, 8 dogs with non-specific gastroenteritis, and 9 healthy dogs.


METHODS
Endoscopic biopsy specimens of duodenal mucosa from each dog were stained specifically for IgA and IgG heavy chains and pan T-cell (CD3) antigen, using immunoperoxidase techniques. Morphometric analysis, performed via an image-analysis system, was used to count IgA- and IgG-containing cells and T cells within paired contiguous villi from each dog.


RESULTS
cells were the predominant immune cell type in all groups of dogs. Significant differences in the villus distribution of IgA- and IgG-containing cells and T cells were not observed. Healthy dogs had significantly higher T-cell counts than had dogs with IBD or gastroenteritis. Dogs with nonspecific gastroenteritis had a significantly higher concentration of IgA-containing cells than the other groups of dogs had. Significant group differences for IgG-containing cells also were evident, with dogs with IBD having the lowest cell counts.


CONCLUSIONS
High concentrations of IgA- and IgG-containing cells and T cells in the villus lamina propria cannot be reliably used to distinguish IBD from other intestinal disorders in dogs. Evaluation of T cells may be the most discriminatory method for differentiating dogs with IBD from clinically normal dogs via examination of intestinal biopsy specimens.
Jergens
A E
AE
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA.
Moore
F M
FM
Kaiser
M S
MS
Haynes
J S
JS
Kinyon
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004386:Duodenum / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D017252:CD3 Complex; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G