title: Development of a fecal sample collection strategy for extraction and quantification of fecal immunoglobulin A in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a fecal sample collection strategy and quantification method for measurement of fecal IgA concentrations in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fecal samples from 23 healthy pet dogs of various breeds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunoglobulin A was extracted from fecal samples. An ELISA for the measurement of fecal IgA concentrations was established and analytically validated. Intraindividual variation of fecal IgA was determined by calculation of coefficients of variation. A sample collection strategy was developed on the basis of results of intraindividual variation of fecal IgA concentrations. A reference range for fecal IgA concentrations was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The method for extraction and quantification of fecal IgA was determined to be sufficiently sensitive, reproducible, accurate, and precise. On the basis of the intraindividual variability of our results, the determined fecal sample collection strategy required analysis of a total of 4 fecal samples/dog, with each fecal sample collected on 2 consecutive days with 28 days between sample collection periods (ie, days 1 and 2 followed by days 28 and 29). Reference range values for fecal IgA concentration were 0.22 to 3.24 mg/g of feces.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methods of fecal IgA extraction and quantification used in our study allow for identification of dogs with consistently low fecal IgA concentrations. Use of these techniques will enable future investigations into possible associations between low fecal IgA concentrations and signs of gastrointestinal disease in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4474, USA.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tress
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suchodolski
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jörg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A