Influence of Breed Size, Age, Fecal Quality, and Enteropathogen Shedding on Fecal Calprotectin and Immunoglobulin A Concentrations in Puppies During the Weaning Period.
BACKGROUND
Fecal calprotectin and immunoglobulin A (IgA) are markers of intestinal inflammation and immunity in adult dogs.


OBJECTIVE
Fecal calprotectin and IgA concentrations in puppies are not influenced by fecal moisture in puppies but by enteropathogen shedding.


METHODS
Three hundred and twenty-four puppies.


METHODS
Fecal consistency was assessed by gross examination. Fecal moisture was evaluated before and after lyophilization. Canine parvovirus and coronavirus were detected in feces by qPCR and qRT-PCR respectively. Giardia intestinalis antigen was quantified by ELISA. The standard McMaster flotation technique was used to detect eggs and oocysts in feces. Fecal calprotectin and IgA concentrations were quantified by in-house radioimmunoassays.


RESULTS
For each marker (IgA and calprotectin), a strong positive correlation was observed between concentration in fresh feces and concentration in fecal dry matter. 75.6% of the puppies were found to be infected by at ≥1 of the enteropathogens evaluated. Fecal calprotectin concentration was significantly influenced by age (P = .001), with higher concentrations in younger puppies, but not by viral (P = .863) or parasitic infection (P = .791). Fecal IgA concentration was significantly influenced by enteropathogen shedding (P = .01), with a lower fecal IgA concentration in puppies shedding at ≥1 enteropathogen compared to puppies without any enteropathogen shedding, but not by age.


CONCLUSIONS
Fecal calprotectin and IgA are of no diagnostic value to detect presence of enteropathogens in clinically healthy puppies or puppies with abnormal feces, but could help to better understand the maturation of digestive tract.
Royal Canin, Aimargues, France.
A
A
Grellet
Small Animal Clinic, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
R M
RM
Heilmann
Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
B
B
Polack
Royal Canin, Aimargues, France.
A
A
Feugier
Scanelis, Colomiers, France.
C
C
Boucraut-Baralon
Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France.
D
D
Grandjean
Clinic for Swine, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
N
N
Grützner
Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
J S
JS
Suchodolski
Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
J M
JM
Steiner
NeoCare, IHAP, IHAP, Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, Toulouse Cedex 03, France.
S
S
Chastant-Maillard
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D049628:Body Size / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000737:chemistry*; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014886:Weaning
D015415:Biomarkers; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex
Age; Calprotectin; Digestive; Dog; Enteropathogens; Immunoglobulin A