The dog as a genetic model for immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency: Identification of several breeds with low serum IgA concentrations

• Published in: Veterinary immunology and immunopathology 2014, Vol.160 (3-4), p.255-259
• Main Authors: Olsson, Mia, Frankowiack, Marcel, Tengvall, Katarina, Roosje, Petra, Fall, Tove, Ivansson, Emma, Bergvall, Kerstin, Hansson-Hamlin, Helene, Sundberg, Katarina, Hedhammar, Åke, Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin, Hammarström, Lennart
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Clinical Science; Dog; Dog Diseases - genetics; Dog Diseases - immunology; Dogs - classification; Dogs - genetics; Dogs - immunology; Female; German shepherd; Humans; IgA Deficiency - genetics; IgA Deficiency - immunology; IgA Deficiency - veterinary; Immunodeficiency; Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Klinisk vetenskap; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Models, Genetic; Reference Values; Species Specificity
• ISSN: 0165-2427; 1873-2534; 1873-2534
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2014.05.010

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) serves as the basis of the secretory immune system by protecting the lining of mucosal sites from pathogens. In both humans and dogs, IgA deficiency (IgAD) is associated with recurrent infections of mucosal sites and immune-mediated diseases. Low concentrations of serum IgA have previously been reported to occur in a number of dog breeds but no generally accepted cut-off value has been established for canine IgAD. The current study represents the largest screening to date of IgA in dogs in terms of both number of dogs (n=1267) and number of breeds studied (n=22). Serum IgA concentrations were quantified by using capture ELISA and were found to vary widely between breeds. We also found IgA to be positively correlated with age (p