SECONDARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY IN DOGS WITH ENTERIC, DERMATOLOGICAL, INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC DISEASES

A group of 238 dogs with various infectious and parasitic diseases, in which suppressed activity of the immune system could be presumed, was examined using a set of immunological methods. The frequency and dept h of immunosuppression and its association with certain infectious or parasitic disease were determined. Marked immunosuppression was found in 62 (26%) of the dogs examined. Dogs with distemper, parvovirosis an d German Shepherd dog pyoderma (GSP) were the most severely impaired. Dogs in acute phases of distemper or parvovirosis had decreased number s and activity of lymphocytes and decreased immunoglobulin levels. Dog s with GSP had some of the following immunologic symptoms: inhibition of phagocytosis, reduced activity of lymphocytes, decreased levels of haemolytic complement and increased levels of immunoglobulin and lysoz yme. A persistent immunosuppression was found in 12 dogs. These dogs w ere diagnosed with deep pyoderma, giardiasis, dermatophytosis or neopl asms. Although samples were not taken before the clinical diseases app eared, it can be presumed that some diseases caused immunosuppression (distemper or parvovirosis), and for other diseases immunosuppression was a predisposing factor (dermatophytosis, giardiasis and possibly GS P).