Beta-2 protein peak in blood tests of dogs with Angiostrongylus

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Angiostrongylosis is an emerging canine parasitic disease that often causes polyclonal hyperglobulinemia. In the authors' experience, we have seen what could be a typical serum protein electrophoretic pattern characterized by a large, symmetrical beta-2 peak in dogs with angiostrongylosis. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of this pattern in dogs infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum compared with a randomly selected canine population. METHODS: Serum protein capillary zone electrophoreses (CZEs) from dogs with angiostrongylosis were assigned to Group 1. The CZE pattern was classified as normal, nonspecific polyclonal, or polyclonal with a typical beta-2 peak. The frequency of this latter pattern in Group 1 was compared with the frequency of similar findings in a randomly selected canine sera group (Group 2). RESULTS: Groups 1 and 2 included 22 and 3687 cases, respectively. Thirteen of 22 (59.1%) dogs in Group 1 had this peak in the beta-2 region. A similar CZE pattern was observed in 43 dogs in Group 2 (1.2%). The remaining dogs in Group 1 had a nonspecific polyclonal hyperglobulinemia (six cases), a normal tracing (one case), or an ambiguous tracing (two cases). CONCLUSIONS: Dogs with angiostrongylosis commonly have polyclonal hyperglobulinemia, frequently characterized by a large and symmetrical beta-2 peak on CZE, which is uncommon in the canine population. Additional studies are needed to identify the protein composition of this peculiar beta fraction.