SIGNIFICANCE OF IGE LEVELS IN SERUM OF CA TS WITH CHRONIC GINGIVITIS PARODONTITIS

In 56 out of 69 feline patients with chronic oral inflammatory disease the IgE level in the serum was assessed. In 46 patients the exact his tory of the fed diet, in 60 patients the viral status (FeLV, FIV, FeSF V, FCV, FIP, FHV) was known. The level of IgE against various ingredie nts of the diet,vas assessed by means of monoclonal mouse-anti-cat ant ibodies. In 36 percent of the patients the IgE level in the serum was elevated. Antibodies were found against barley, soy, rye, rice, wheat, gluten, chicken, egg, beef, lamb, oats, horse, pork, milli, celery an d crab. Although these ingredients are found in almost any commerciall y: available diets, no statistically significant correlation between t he fed diet and the IgE level could be observed (p = 0.14). Additional ly, no significant correlation between the different viral titers and the IgE level was demonstrable.