title: Food hypersensitivity reactions in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers with protein-losing enteropathy or protein-losing nephropathy or both: gastroscopic food sensitivity testing, dietary provocation, and fecal immunoglobulin E.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers (SCWTs) affected with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) or protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) or both for allergy to food. We performed gastroscopic food-sensitivity testing, a provocative dietary trial, and measurement of fecal immunoglobulin E (IgE) in 6 SCWTs affected with PLE or PLN or both. Positive gastroscopic food-sensitivity test reactions were noted in 5 of 6 dogs. Positive reactions were found to milk in 4 dogs, to lamb in 2 dogs, and to wheat and chicken each in 1 dog. Adverse reactions to food (diarrhea, vomiting, or pruritus) were detected in all 6 dogs during the provocative dietary trial. Adverse reactions were found to corn in 5 dogs, to tofu in 3 dogs, to cottage cheese in 2 dogs, to milk in 2 dogs, to farina cream of wheat in 2 dogs, and to lamb in 2 dogs. Serum albumin concentrations significantly decreased and fecal alpha1-protease inhibitor concentration significantly increased 4 days after the provocative trial when compared with baseline values. Antigen-specific fecal IgE varied throughout the provocative trial, with peak levels following ingestion of test meals. We conclude that food hypersensitivities are present in SCWTs affected with the syndrome of PLE/PLN. Mild inflammatory bowel disease was already established in the 6 SCWTs of this report at the time of study, making it impossible to determine if food allergies were the cause or result of the enteric disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh 27606, USA. shelly_vanden@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Vaden
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hammerberg
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Orton
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Trogdon
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Melgarejo
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: VanCamp
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E