title: Immunoglobulins in dogs: correspondence and maturation in 15 litters of German shepherd dogs and their dams.
abstract: Some dog breeds, including the German shepherd dog (GSD), are predisposed to immune-related disorders. The authors prospectively described development of serum and faecal IgA and serum IgE in GSD from puppies until adulthood and the relationship between mothers and their offspring. Further, the authors tested whether dogs with lower serum IgA also have low faecal IgA and/or serum IgE. To reveal whether any of the parameters could be proven to influence the immune response, the authors also measured serum IgG against canine distemper virus (CDV). To test their hypothesis, the authors used linear mixed models to investigate the relationship of serum IgA, serum IgE and faecal IgA levels in litters and their mothers. Fifteen GSD bitches beginning at 42 days of pregnancy and subsequently all of their offspring (n=83 puppies), reared under well-controlled conditions, were included. All dogs came from the kennel of the Swedish Armed Forces. Serum IgE, serum IgA and faecal IgA levels were lower in seven-week-old puppies than at one year of age. There was no relationship in Ig concentrations between bitches and their puppies at seven weeks of age. Dogs with higher faecal IgA had higher IgG titres against CDV, indicating a favourable systemic immune status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences , Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Åsa
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Vilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences , Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Åke
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Hedhammar
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Purina Research , Saint Louis, Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Arleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Purina Research , Saint Louis, Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Purina Research , Saint Louis, Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Ebenezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Satyaraj
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Purina Research , Saint Louis, Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pelker
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Purina Research , Saint Louis, Missouri , USA.
authors.forename: Cari
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rottman
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Björkstén
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences , Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hansson-Hamlin
keywords: Dogs; Immune mediated diseases; Immunology