THE RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS IN DOGS .2. RHEU MATOID FACTORS AND ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODIES

One criteria in the diagnosis of rheumatoid polyarthritis is the prese nce of Rheumatoid Factors in the serum. The Waaler-Rose-Test and the L atexfixationtest were taken from human medicine and used in canine med icine. The latex test was slightly modified by sensibilisating the lat ex particles with canine immunoglobuline G (IgG) instead of human IgG. Both systems have not shown convincing results. An ELISA test with ca nine IgG as antigen was therefore developed. The newly developed ELISA test system for detection of IgM-Rheumatoid Factor compared to the pr eceding two tests was less arbitrary and found a better application in routine diagnostics. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are proteins which are imperative in the diagnostic procedures of immune mediated disease s nowadays. The immunofluorescence techniques can be used as an approp riate screening test in Veterinary Medicine.