Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
IgA antibody levels in an Irish setter with immune deficiency
By Norris, Carol R & Gershwin, Laurel J·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2003·Department of Pathology, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Evaluation of systemic and secretory IgA concentrations and immunohistochemical stains for IgA-containing B cells in mucosal tissues of an Irish setter with selective IgA deficiency.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A young Irish Setter was experiencing ongoing respiratory and gastrointestinal issues, which led to a diagnosis of selective IgA deficiency, a condition where the dog has low levels of a specific antibody (IgA) that helps protect mucosal surfaces. Tests showed that while the dog's serum levels of other antibodies (IgG and IgM) were normal, the secretory IgA levels were low. The findings suggest that measuring serum IgA alone isn't enough to understand the dog's immune function at mucosal sites. Treatment details weren't specified, but understanding this condition can help guide future care for dogs with similar symptoms.
People also search for: Irish Setter respiratory problems · dog gastrointestinal issues · selective IgA deficiency in dogs
Abstract
Immunoglobulin A is the predominant secretory antibody at mucosal surfaces. In the dog, immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAD) is characterized by low to absent serum IgA and normal to elevated serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations. However, studies comparing serum and secretory IgA in dogs have often documented a poor correlation, suggesting that serum concentrations should not be used to estimate mucosal secretion of this antibody. This report demonstrates the concurrent use of serum IgA, IgG, and IgM; secretory IgA (from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid); and immunohistochemical stains on bronchial and duodenal mucosa for IgA-containing B cells in a young Irish setter with recurrent respiratory and gastrointestinal signs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12755197/