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Serum Auto Antibodies and Clinical/Pathological Features in German Shepherd Dogs with a Lupuslike Syndrome

Autoantikroppar i serum och kliniska-patologiska förändringar hos Schäferhundar med ett lupus liknande syndrom

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 32, pages 15–26 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

This study presents 8 dogs of German Shepherd breed (6 males, 2 females, 2–5 years of age at onset of the disease) with a lupus like syndrome characterized by febrile polyarthritis, wasting, nephropathy, cutaneous lesions and high positive titres of ANA (antinuclear antibodies) of speckled type. The serum autoantibodies were further characterized by double immunodiffusion against ENA (extractable nuclear antigen), ELISA for Histone antibodies (Histon fraction H-24A and H-3S), indirect IF on rat-liver sections, non treated and RNase/DNase digested sections for DNP/RNP antibodies, and smears of a nemoflagellate C. luciliae for antibodies vs doubbel strained DNA, (dsDNA). Thus, the high ANA titres in these dogs represent varying types of autoantibodies against nucleoproteins of both DNA and RNA nature, associated histone antigens and non-histone antibodies (RNA and Sm) as well. Rheumatoid Factor titres in serum from these dogs were low or negative.

Immunoglobulin deposits at dermo-epidermal junctions were demonstrated in some of the dogs with hyperkeratotic skin lesions. High concentration of serum-IgG was a constant finding in combination with anemia and in most cases leukopenia probably related to the chronic inflammatory process in these animals. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) or thrombocytopenia was not detected in these dogs.

Sammanfattning

Studien beskriver ett sjukdomssyndrom hos unga Schäfer-hundar (2-5 år vid debuten, 2 tikar och 6 hannar) uppvisande en systemisk reumatisk sjukdom liknande systemisk lupus erytematosus (SLE) med feber, polyartrit, avmagring, nefropati, hudforåndringar och hog positiv ANA titer (Antinukleära antikroppar) med sk kornigt fluorescensmonster.

Serum från dessa hundar undersöktes också avseende forekomst av andra auto-antikroppar mot olika nukleära protein-strukturer; antikroppar mot ENA (Extractable nuclear antigen) bestämdes med immundiffusions teknik, Histon antikroppar analyserades med ELISA (H-2A och H-3S fraktioner), indirekt immunfluorescens teknik på DN/ase och RN/ase behandlade vävnadssnitt liksom utstryk av en flagellat, Crithidia lucilliae, användes for identifiering av antikroppar mot DNP/RNP respektive dubbelstrångat DNA (dsDNA). Autoantikroppar riktade mot antigen av såväl RNP som DNP natur påvisades hos dessa hundar, liksom mot associerade histoner och andre nukleåra fraktioner (bla Sm-antigen). Reumatoid faktor titern i serum hos dessa hundar var genomgående låg eller negativ.

Hos några hundar med hyperkeratotiska hudförändringar påvisades immunglobulin deposition i overgångszonen melian dermis och epidermis.

Samtliga hundar upvisade kraftigt forhöjda serum-IgG nivåer liksom anemi ofta fbrenat med leukopeni och troligen orsakat av den kroniska inflammations-processen vid detta sjukdomssyndrom. Autoimmun hemolytisk anemi eller trombocytopeni kunde däremot inte påvisas hos dessa hundar.

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  1. Department of Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, University of Agricultural Sciences, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Kerstin Thoren- Tolling & Lars Ryden

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  1. Kerstin Thoren- Tolling
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Thoren- Tolling, K., Ryden, L. Serum Auto Antibodies and Clinical/Pathological Features in German Shepherd Dogs with a Lupuslike Syndrome. Acta Vet Scand 32, 15–26 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546993

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147