title: Evaluation of automated assays for immunoglobulin G, M, and A measurements in dog and cat serum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measurements of immunoglobulins (Igs) in companion animals can be useful to detect deficiencies of the humoral immune system, that can be associated with opportunistic or chronic infections, or other immune-mediated disorders including B-cell neoplasms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate commercially available automated immunoturbidimetric assays designed for human IgG, M, and A measurements in canine and feline serum using species-specific calibrators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canine and feline serum samples with different IgG, M, and A concentrations were used for the analytical validation of the assays. Intra- and inter-assay precision, linearity under dilution, spiking recovery, and limit of detection were determined. In addition, effects of lipemia, hemolysis, and bilirubinemia were evaluated. Finally, Ig concentrations were determined in small groups of diseased dogs and cats, and compared with healthy groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spiking recovery and linearity under dilution tests showed that the assays measured Igs in canine and feline serum samples precisely and accurately. Intra- and inter-assay imprecisions were lower than 15% in all cases. Significantly higher IgG, IgM, and IgA levels were observed in dogs with leishmaniasis, while dogs with pyometra showed a statistically significant increase in IgM and IgA concentrations in comparison with healthy dogs. Significantly higher IgG and IgM levels were observed in FIV-infected cats compared with healthy ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The automated human Ig assays showed adequate precision and accuracy with serum samples from dogs and cats. Also, they were able to discriminate different concentrations of Igs in healthy and diseased animals.
authors.affiliation: Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tvarijonaviciute
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martínez-Subiela
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldin
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tecles
authors.forename: Jose J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ceron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D057205:Automation, Laboratory / Q000592:standards*; D002415:Cats; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Automated analyzer; immune deficiency; immune dysfunction; method validation; turbidimetric immunoassay