ANTISTAPHYLOCOCCAL ANTIBODIES IN DOGS WITH RECURRENT STAPHYLOCOCCAL PYODERMA

Staphylococcus intermedius skin infection (pyoderma) may be perpetuate d in some dogs by a hypersensitivity reaction to staphylococcal organi sms. Dogs with idiopathic superficial or deep recurrent staphylococcal skin infections may thus have quantitative differences in serum antis taphylococcal IgE antibodies compared with healthy dogs. To test this hypothesis, antistaphylococcal IgG and IgE antibodies were measured by ELISA in groups of dogs with idiopathic recurrent pyoderma, recurrent pyoderma secondary to atopic disease, non-recurrent pyoderma, and in healthy dogs. All groups of dogs with prior staphylococcal skin infect ion had significantly higher mean serum antistaphylococcal IgG levels than healthy dogs (P<0.05). Dogs with recurrent deep pyoderma had the highest mean levels of antistaphylococcal IgG. Dogs with idiopathic re current superficial pyoderma and those with recurrent pyoderma seconda ry to atopy had significantly (P<0.05) higher mean levels of serum ant istaphylococcal IgE than other groups tested. It is concluded from the se findings that S. intermedius can behave as an allergen in some dogs and elicit an IgE response. These results support the concept that ba cterial hypersensitivity may be responsible for initiating or perpetua ting skin lesions in these animals.