[Is there a superantigen effect on steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis in dogs?].
Steroid responsive meningitis-arthritis in the dog is a frequently occurring disease in small animal practice. However, the etiology and pathogenesis are unknown. Immunopathologic events are suspected, since IgA seems to play a central role in pathogenesis. The influence of an infectious agent is possible. To classify the nature of such an agent, we tried to find in this study an oligoclonal T-cell proliferation using Southern blot technique. This could give a hint for an infection with a superantigen. In a first step a proliferation assay was performed, proving that staphylococcus enterotoxins A and B induce a strong lymphocyte proliferation in the dog in vitro. In one out of six dogs with steroid responsive meningitis-arthritis T-cell receptor rearrangement was detected after digestion of genomic DNA with two different restriction enzymes. Therefore a superantigen influence in this specific disease seems to be possible, but could not be proven finally using Southern blot techniques.
Tipold
A
A
Department of Clinical Studies, Veterinary School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
Somberg
R
R
Felsburg
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001167:Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases; D004285:Dogs; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D004768:Enterotoxins; D018089:Superantigens; C026066:enterotoxin A, Staphylococcal; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal