Influence of sex and age on serum total immunoglobulin E concentration in Beagles

Objective-To establish an ELISA for detection of serum total IgE concentrat ion in dogs and to analyze IgE values in a dog colony. Animals-147 healthy Beagles (31 males and 116 females). Procedure-2 canine IgE-specific polyclonal antibodies elicited by 2 recombi nant fragments of the epsilon chain in hens were used to develop a capture ELISA specific for serum total IgE concentration. The IgE values were calcu lated by comparing serum dose-response curves (1:50 to 1:6,400) with a refe rence serum pool assigned 100 relative ELISA units (REU). Results-Mean IgE concentration in female Beagles was 51.2 REU (range, 0 to 337.8 REU; median, 31.4 REU), whereas mean IgE concentration in male dogs w as only 7.5 REU (range, 0 to 32.6 REU; mean, 3.6 REU). Distribution of IgE values was skewed; approximately 80% of dogs had IgE Values < 50 REU. Analy sis of natural logarithmically transformed IgE values indicated that sex an d age significantly (P < 0.05) influenced IgE values; mean serum IgE Values increased until the age of 4 years. Heritability estimates of IgE concentr ation indicated a trend toward a genetic influence. Conclusion-A reliable capture ELISA specific for canine IgE was developed. Serum total IgE values vary with age and sex in the sample population. Clinical Relevance-Serum total IgE concentration can now be evaluated in va rious dog breeds and, subsequently, in dogs with IgE-mediated diseases prov ided that these significant influences are accounted for. Serum total IgE v alues may then prove to be of diagnostic value, similar to their use in hum an beings.